The Superior Court of the State of Delaware was saddened to learn today of the passing of one of our own, Judge John A. Parkins, Jr. The Court offers its condolences to his family, friends, and co-workers, according to a spokesperson for the courts.
“Judge Parkins, our beloved colleague and friend, loved the law, loved the Court and loved to help others. All of us will miss him dearly. We are grateful that we had the privilege of serving with him,” said Superior Court President Judge Jan R. Jurden.
Judge Parkins, 72, was appointed to the bench in August 2008 by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and stepped down from the bench on April 1, 2019, to tend to persistent health issues. Judge Parkins’ term had not been set to expire until July 2020.
Prior to joining the court, Judge Parkins served in private practice for 23 years, from 1985 to 2008, at the Wilmington law firm of Richards Layton & Finger. Before that, Judge Parkins worked in the Delaware Department of Justice as Chief of the Appeals Division and as a Deputy Attorney General.
From 1973 to 1977, he was an associate in the now-defunct firm of Murdoch, Longobardi, Schwartz & Waltz. Judge Parkins began his legal career as a law clerk for Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel F. Wolcott and then-Associate (later Chief) Justice Daniel L. Herrmann.
Judge Parkins received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and his law degree with honors from Washington & Lee University. He also proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.
At his public investiture in 2008, at the New Castle County Courthouse, Judge Parkins quoted legendary New York Yankee Lou Gehrig to express his appreciation and enthusiasm for being named to the bench, saying, “Today I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.” He concluded his remarks then, as he concluded many conversations, with his tongue-in-cheek directive, “now take the rest of the day off.”
Information on funeral services is not yet available.