WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a recent visit by Elon Musk to testify in front of the Delaware Court of Chancery, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) urged the billionaire Tesla CEO to use his influence to amplify the need for judicial reform in the First State. Delaware’s Chancery Court rules over more than half of the country’s Fortune 500 companies yet continues antiquated and opaque proceedings without juries or allowing cameras in the court. The court’s decisions affect millions of diverse workers across the country yet it does not have a single justice of color.
In 2018, the Radio Television Digital News Association, the world’s largest group devoted to broadcast and digital journalism advocacy, called on Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard to remove the shroud of secrecy around the Court hearings and give companies and workers the transparency they deserve, but to no avail. And for more than three years Rev. Al Sharpton, the prominent civil rights leader, has urged Delaware’s leadership to be held accountable for their failure to appoint justices of color. CPBD has led the charge for Chancery Court reform and is calling on high-profile business leaders to join the fight for increased transparency, diversity, and accountability on the court.
Said Chris Coffey, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager, “Former Chancellor Bouchard moved to restrict more public access to the Chancery by tying the issues up in the red tape of a rules committee. Governor Carney not once but twice backfilled the first Black justice on the Chancery court with a white judge and refused to meet with a legend of the civil rights movement, Al Sharpton, to discuss judicial diversity. There is no diversity and minimal accountability and transparency on the Chancery Court. With Elon Musk bringing his media convoy to the Chancery Court, we hope that he will add his voice to those shining a light on the court’s failures.”
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware is a group made up of more than 5,000 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executives, and others. They formed in April of 2016 to focus on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the unprecedented forced sale of TransPerfect. While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to fight for more transparency in the Delaware Chancery Court. For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware or to join the cause, visit DelawareForBusiness.org.
