Washington, DC— Today, the nation's first comprehensive study of the systems that hold state and federal judges accountable ranked Delaware 47th in the nation and issued the state's program a D grade. To shine a light on the typically secretive and toothless systems that often fail to remove abusive and incompetent judges from the bench, legal consumer watchdog group HALT, Inc. released its 2008 Judicial Accountability Report Card, analyzing programs in all 50 states, D.C. and the federal circuits.

"Delaware's system of judicial oversight is one of the most secretive and insular in the country," stated HALT Senior Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder. "It's no wonder that most litigants are reluctant to file a complaint in a system that appears to be of the judges, by the judges and for the judges."

HALT's study noted that Delaware is one of only three states to delay disclosure of an ethics complaint against a judge unless and until the state's highest court orders public discipline. HALT further observed that Delaware does not give lay persons even a token voice in the decision- making process, as the Board of Examining Officers is composed only of active or retired judges. And Delaware's Court on the Judiciary is one of only five judicial conduct bodies in the nation that does not host a Web site.

"Without online resources to clarify how to file a complaint, explain judicial ethics standards or provide information about judges' disciplinary histories, few consumers will be able to understand and use the system of judicial oversight in Delaware," stated Blonder.

Moreover, the state's Code of Judicial Conduct fails to place meaningful limitations on the reimbursement and compensation that judges may accept in connection with trips funded by corporate and special interests. "Delaware's laws include massive loopholes that allow members of the judiciary to be wined and dined on the corporate dime," noted Blonder.

None of the top six states-Washington, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Arizona, California and Texas-scored higher than a B average on the Report Card. More than half of the states received grades in the C range and HALT issued D's to 14 jurisdictions. Two states-Maine and Mississippi-flunked outright.

"At a time when the American public has lost faith in the impartiality and fairness of the nation's judiciary, it's critical that we have an effective system of oversight for judges," stated Blonder. "We hope that Delaware legislators and chief judicial officers will work to transform a mechanism marred by secrecy into a system dedicated to upholding the integrity of our nation's judiciary."