GEORGETOWN, Del. - The Delaware Court of Commons Pleas recognized retired Judge Rosemary Beauregard on Wednesday with a portrait unveiling. She was the first woman to be appointed as judge in the Delaware Court of Common Pleas in 1999, and served two terms before retiring last March.
The court says Women's History Month was the perfect time to honor Judge Beauregard in the Sussex County Courthouse in Courtroom A, where she presided for 21 years.
"I'm very excited to be changing the dynamic, if you will, and to be a part of changing the landscape in Sussex County especially,” said Judge Beauregard.
The court honored Judge Beauregard for her contributions in the Delaware courts up until her retirement last year. Her retirement celebration was put off because of COVID in March 2020.
"I thought it was lovely. I didn't want a very formal ceremony, and I knew it would be a small crowd because of the restrictions with COVID. The people who are special to me are here, and I was very happy with it,” she said.
While the court honored Judge Beauregard on Wednesday, it's also important to recognize the other women in the Court of Common Pleas who came after Judge Beauregard.
Judge Rae Mims filled Judge Beauregard's vacancy last July, and is the first person and woman of color to hold this position in the Court of Common Pleas.
"I said to the Governor in my interview, representation matters, and people aren't going to believe there is justice when they don't see anyone on the bench who looks like them,” said Judge Mims.
Both Judge Mims and Kent County Judge Hartnett say Judge Beauregard helped pave the way for more women in the courtroom.
"A great friend, a great mentor, a great jurist, a great attorney,” said Judge Anne Hartnett.
"I actually started here in Sussex, in front of Judge Beauregard as a baby lawyer ... and you had to be prepared she was tough, by no means ... but I learned a lot under her and Judge Clark.”
Judge Mims says there are four women on the Court of Common Pleas, the most there’s ever been.