Opinion
April 13, 1973.
To His Excellency Sherman W. Tribbitt
Governor of Delaware
Reference is made to your letter, dated April 6, 1973, requesting the opinions of the Justices, under 10 Del. C. § 141, upon the following question:
10 Del. C. § 141 provides:
" § 141. Opinions of the Justices upon request of the Governor
"The Justices of the Supreme Court, whenever the Governor of this State shall require it for public information, or to enable him to discharge the duties of his office with fidelity, shall give him their opinions in writing touching the proper construction of any provision in the Constitution of this State or of the United States, or the constitutionality of any law enacted by the Legislature of this State."
"If, upon the expiration of twelve years from the date from the beginning of the term of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County, no successor has been appointed, may the incumbent hold over under the provisions of Article XV, Section 5, of the Constitution of Delaware [Del. C. Ann.] while the Senate is in session?"
The Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County is a statutory judge appointed under the authority of 10 Del. C. § 1602(a). That Statute provides:
"(a) The Governor shall appoint and commission a Judge for a term of 12 years who shall hold and preside over the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County."
This judgeship is governed by Article XV, Section 5 of the Delaware Constitution which provides:
"Section 5. All public officers shall hold their respective offices until their successors shall be duly qualified, except in cases herein otherwise provided."
We find no provision of the Constitution creating an exception to Art. XV, Sec. 5 for statutory judges; it is nowhere in the Constitution "otherwise provided". Accordingly, it is our opinion that Art. XV, Sec. 5 controls the question presented.
In Opinion of the Justices, Del.Supr., 189 A.2d 777 (1963), it was advised that constitutional judgeships are not governed by Art. XV, Sec. 5 because it was "otherwise provided" by Art. IV, Sec. 3 of the Constitution. That Opinion was not addressed to statutory judgeships. Any statement therein contained which may seem inconsistent with this Opinion is hereby superseded.
For the foregoing reasons, it is the unanimous opinion of the undersigned that the answer to the question presented is affirmative.
Respectfully submitted, Daniel F. Wolcott, Chief Justice
James B. Carey, D.L. Herrmann, Associate Justices.