Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. has been elected president of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and will also chair the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) Board of Directors for a one‑year term running through July 2026. He assumed both national leadership roles following CCJ’s annual meeting in late July 2025 in Rockport, Maine. Seitz takes over from Utah Chief Justice Matthew Durrant.
“I’m honored to serve these organizations along with NCSC’s new president, Elizabeth Clement. We will work together to support the chief justices and the state courts as they address the many challenges facing state courts today,” said Seitz in the announcement released by the Delaware Supreme Court.
From the Delaware Supreme Court press release:
Chief Justice Seitz is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and former trustee of the American Inns of Court. He serves as Judicial Liaison to the American Bar Association’s Corporate Laws Committee and is a member of the American Law Institute, where he serves as a judicial advisor to its Restatement of the Law, Corporate Governance. He also serves on the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction.
The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) was founded in 1949 to strengthen state courts and advance the fair administration of justice. It is a central part of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). CCJ also acts as the primary representative for state court systems before Congress and federal executive agencies. In addition to its work with CCJ, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.
Chief Justice Seitz’s election marks the third time a Delaware Chief Justice has headed the two national organizations. Chief Justice E. Norman Veasey was the first from Delaware, serving as CCJ president from 1999-2000, followed by Delaware Chief Justice Myron T. Steele, who served from 2012-2013.
Seitz was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware on November 8, 2019. He has served as a Supreme Court Justice since 2015. Prior to his appointment, he founded a corporate advisory and litigation firm in Wilmington, Delaware representing clients in high profile corporate and trust disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Supreme Court. He was also a long-time partner in a large Wilmington, Delaware law firm, where he litigated corporate and intellectual property disputes.