Smyrna times., 1946-01-24
NEW JUDGE
AT LARGE
Geo. B. Pearson, Jr., Named
To State Benech AS Sue
cessor to Rodney
CONFIRMED FRIDAY

George Burton Pearson, Jr., of
Wilmington, who for the past six
years has been vice chancellor of
Delaware, took office Friday as
member-at-large of the state judi
eiary, succeeding Judge Richard 5.
Rodney, after brief ceremony in
the Court of Chancery when he
was sworn in by Chancellor w. W..
Harrington. Judge Pearson was
appointed by Gov. Walter w. Bac-
ON and the appointment was con-
frmed by a majority of the state
Senate in special session Thurs
day. The vote was 10 Republicans
for and six Democrats against.
Both Judge Pearson and Judge
Rodney are Democrats and the ap-
pointment called for a Democrat
because Delaware's Constitution
movides that of the five state
judges-not including the chancel-
lor-not more than three shall be
Of one political party. At present
there are three Republicans on the
bench. Judge Pearson and Judge
Charles l.. Terry of Dover are the
Democrats. The Republicans are
Chief Justice Charles S. Richards,
Judges Frank L. Speakman, and
James B. Carey.
Entered Bar In 1881
Judge Pearson was admitted to
practice law in 1881. He is the
son of DR.. George Burton Pearson
and Mrs. Estelle Cochran Pearson.
After attending public schools in
Aiddletown and Newark, he went
to Friends School in Wilmington,
and was graduated in 1928. He
was graduated from Princeton
University with tonor in 1927 and
then studied law at the University
of Pennsylvania Law School,
where he was graduated in 1881.
He then served as law clerk to Cir
cult Court Judge Victor B. Wool
ley, then judge of the U. 5. Cir-
cult Court of Appels, Third CIR
cult. For eight years preceding
his appointment as vice-chanceilor'
Judge Pearson was associated with
former U. S. District Judge Hugh
NJ. Morris in law practice. Judge
Pearson is the second new member
of the state bench in the past five
months. The other is Judge James
B. Carey, who was named assoc1-
ate Justice from Sussex County af-
ter Judge Charles S. Richards had
been advanced to chief justice.
The office which Judge Pearson
held for six years as the states
first vice--chancellor, is now vacant
Vacancy To Be Filled
Chancellor Harrington, with
following his resignation.
whom rests the authority for ap-
pointment of a successor to the
vice-chancellor, said the vancancy
would be filed soon but as yet he
did not know who would be taken
under consideration. The position
of vice-chancellor does not require
confirmation by the state Senate.
The office was created in 1889 by
the Legislature, to assist the chan-
cellor and relieve him of much de-
tail in litigation. An increase In
business before the Court of Chan
Gerry during the past two decades,
resulting chiefly from Delaware's
General Corporation Law favoring
the state as home for corpora
tions, brought about creation of an
office of the chancellors assistant.
Up to 1889, one judge had been re-
quired to handle the great mass OF
business coming before the court,
Others Are Confirmed
Another nomination of Governor
Bacon confirmed yesterday by the
Senate was that of Pierre 5. du-
Pont, reappointed as state tax
commissioner for a term OF four
years, effective last November. He
and eight other interim appointees
were confirmed without dissent.