United States District Court for the District of Delaware
About This Court
Established as a single-district court covering the entire state of Delaware, this court sits within the Third Circuit and handles all federal matters arising within Delaware's borders. Despite the state's small geographic size, the court carries a nationally significant docket due to Delaware's status as the leading state of incorporation for public companies and its well-developed body of corporate law.
The court is widely recognized as one of the most important venues in the country for complex patent litigation, corporate bankruptcy proceedings, and pharmaceutical disputes arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act. A substantial portion of U.S. public companies are incorporated in Delaware, which contributes to a concentration of high-stakes commercial and intellectual property cases relative to the court's size.
With only a small number of active Article III judges serving a geographically compact state, the court maintains a reputation for judicial efficiency and expertise in specialized areas of federal law. Attorneys practicing before this court frequently handle matters of significant commercial consequence.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware.
Caseload
The court handles a disproportionately large volume of patent infringement cases and Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation relative to its size, along with significant corporate and bankruptcy matters tied to Delaware's incorporation laws.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the District of Delaware, which generally requires membership in good standing in the Delaware bar or admission pro hac vice for attorneys not licensed in Delaware. Specific requirements are set forth in the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
844 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 573-6170
Active Judges 6
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Andrews | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of California, Berkeley, School of Law |
| Colm Connolly | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | Duke University School of Law |
| Jennifer Hall | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | University of Pennsylvania Law School (now Carey Law School) |
| Joseph Longobardi | Ronald Reagan | 1984 | Temple University School of Law (now James E. Beasley School of Law) |
| Maryellen Noreika | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | University of Pittsburgh School of Law |
| Gregory Williams | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | Villanova University School of Law |
Local Rules
67 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.
Civil Rules 53
General Rules 10
Attorney Rules 3
Patent Rules 1
| Rule | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.2 | Patent Cases |