A retiring Delaware Supreme Court justice says she's stepping down largely because Gov. Jack Markell didn't consider her a legitimate contender for the chief justice job.
Justice Carolyn Berger is retiring in September with four years left in her term.
She tells The News Journal of Wilmington that she "wasn't taken seriously,'' adding: "I'm not angry. I'm disappointed.''
Berger cited media reports that called Chief Justice Leo Strine the leading candidate for the job and accused the Markell administration of leaking that information.
Andrew Lippstone, Markell's chief legal counsel, says the governor took Berger's application seriously and denied that the governor's office leaked news about the candidates.
Berger had been the only woman on the Supreme Court until Markell nominated attorney Karen Valihura earlier this month.
