State of Justice: July 2026 Vacancies and Elections Updates

Vacancies 

Alabama Supreme Court justice nominated for federal judgeship 

President Trump nominated Justice Greg Cook on the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Cook must undergo a federal judicial confirmation process, including a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee and eventual full Senate vote. Read about Cook on Alliance for Justice’s website. If Cook is confirmed, his elevation will create a vacancy on the court.  

Connecticut governor makes historic nomination to state supreme court 

Gov. Ned Lamont (D) nominated Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Melanie Cradle to serve on the state supreme court to succeed retiring Justice Joan K. Alexander. Cradle must be confirmed by the state General Assembly to serve on the court. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman to serve on the court. Cradle has over a decade of judicial experience, first serving on the Superior Court after being appointed in 2013 and then being elevated to the appellate court in 2020. Prior to her judicial service, Cradle was a senior state’s attorney and an assistant state’s attorney.  

Delaware Senate unanimously confirms Vice Chancellor Morgan Zurn as justice on Delaware Supreme Court 

In early June, Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) nominated Court of Chancery Vice Chancellor Morgan Zurn to replace retired Supreme Court Justice Karen Valihura, who stepped down on July 25. Later that month, on the 30th, Zurn was confirmed to serve as justice on the court. Prior to her nomination, Zurn served as vice chancellor on the Court of Chancery since 2018 and also served as a master in chancery, now called a magistrate in chancery, since 2016. Before her time on the chancery court, she was a patent litigator and then deputy attorney general in the state department of justice. 

Kansas governor makes appointment to state supreme court 

Gov. Laura Kelly (D) appointed district court Judge K. Christopher Jayaram to be the state’s next state supreme court justice. Jayaram is replacing retired Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who retired in March 2026. Jayaram has served on the district court since 2021. Before becoming a judge, he worked in private practice at Horn Aylward & Bandy, LLC for over two decades. Jayaram must stand for retention election in the next general election, which will be this November.