James T. Vaughn Jr.


James T. Vaughn Jr. was an American lawyer who served as a justice of the Delaware Supreme Court from 2014 to 2023.

Early life and education

Vaughan was the son of Delaware State Senator James T. Vaughn Sr. Vaughn graduated from J.B. Moore High School in Smyrna, Delaware, in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1971 and his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1976.

Career

Vaughn was a United States Army veteran. From 1976 to 1988, Vaughn practiced law with Vaughn and Vaughn, where he focused on civil and criminal law. In 1988 he became a member of the firm of Schmittinger and Rodriguez in Dover.
On October 28, 1998, Governor Tom Carper appointed Vaughn as resident judge in Kent County of the Superior Court of Delaware; elevated to president judge of the Superior Court on October 12, 2004.

Delaware Supreme Court

On September 23, 2014, Governor Jack Markell nominated Vaughn to serve as an associate justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. He was nominated to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Carolyn Berger. On October 8, 2014, he was unanimously confirmed by the Delaware Senate. He was sworn into office on October 29, 2014.
He retired from the court on May 1, 2023.

Death

Vaughn died on October 10, 2024, at the age of 75.