Richard S. Gebelein
Richard Stephen Gebelein (June 8, 1946 – December 22, 2021) was an American politician and judge who served as the Attorney General of Delaware from 1979 through 1983, as a judge on the Delaware Superior Court from 1984 through 2005, and as an international judge in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Richard S. Gebelein | |
|---|---|
| International Judge on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| In office 2005–2006 | |
| Appointed by | Paddy Ashdown |
| Judge of the Delaware Superior Court | |
| In office October 5, 1984 – August 31, 2005 | |
| Appointed by | Pete du Pont |
| 40th Attorney General of Delaware | |
| In office January 16, 1979 – January 18, 1983 | |
| Governor | Pete du Pont |
| Preceded by | Richard R. Wier Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Charles Oberly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1946 Darby, Pennsylvania |
| Died | December 22, 2021 (aged 75) Wilmington, Delaware |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh (BS) Villanova University (JD) |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Commendation Medal Achievement Medal |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Delaware Army National Guard |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan |
Early life
Gebelein was born in 1946 in Darby, Pennsylvania. He moved with his family to Longwood Estates, Pennsylvania at an early age and attended St. Joseph on the Brandywine for his early education. Gebelein attended Salesianum School in Wilmington, Delaware, for High School and graduated class of 1964 with honors in mathematics, science, and religion. Gebelein was later inducted into Salesianum's Hall of Fame in 2017.[1]
Career
Early career
Gebelein received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1967. At age 21, Gebelein was elected the youngest magistrate in the Magisterial District Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Gebelein went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1970.[2]
Gebelein was admitted to the Bar of the Delaware Supreme Court in November of 1971 and appointed as a Deputy Attorney General to the Delaware Department of Justice under Attorney General W. Laird Stabler, Jr. serving in that role for 3 years.
Gebelein served as Delaware's state solicitor, chief deputy public defender, as well as disciplinary counsel to the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court.[3]
Attorney General of Delaware
From 1979 through 1983, Gebelein served as the Attorney General of Delaware.[4][5]
Superior Court of Delaware
Gebelein was appointed by Governor of Delaware Pete du Pont to the Delaware Superior Court, and took office on October 5, 1984.[3]
Military Service
In addition to working for the Delaware Department of Justice, Gebelein joined the Delaware Army National Guard in 1979 as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
During his time on the bench, from September 2004 through March 2005, Gebelein, a Colonel in the Delaware Army National Guard, and Staff Judge Advocate General, was deployed to Afghanistan, assisting in helping to rebuild its judicial system as Rule of Law Officer.[6][7]
Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
On August 31, 2005, he retired from the Delaware Superior Court in order to become an international judge on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[3] He also retired from the Delaware Army National Guard in order to assume this position.[7]
On August 1, 2005, Paddy Ashdown, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, appointed Gebelein to Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and to Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was appointed for a two-year term.[8]
Return to Delaware
Gebelein retired from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovnia after being appointed by Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden to serve as his second-in-command as the state's Chief Deputy Attorney General.[7][6] Biden, a Democrat, received some praise for reaching across party lines in appointing Gebelein, a Republican.[7]
References
- "Salesianum Hall of Fame". www.salesianum.org. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- "Gebelein, Richard S. | the Bifferato Firm PA". 14 September 2021.
- "History: Our Judicial Officers - About Us - Superior Court - Delaware Courts - State of Delaware". courts.delaware.gov. Delaware Courts. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware on July 1, 1981 · Page 30". Newspapers.com. 1981-07-01. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- "News Newspaper Archives, Nov 3, 1982, p. 6". Newspaperarchive.com. 1982-11-03. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- "First-hand experience for Del.s Gebelein". Newspapers.com. The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). 9 Feb 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- O'Sullivan, Sean (8 Dec 2006). "Biden reaches across aisle for top assistant". Newspapers.com. The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware).
- Ashdown, Paddy (1 August 2005). "Decision Appointing Richard S. Gebelein to Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and to Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina". ww.ohr.int/. Office of the High Representative. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "Gebelein, Honorable Richard Stephen - McCrery & Harra". www.mccreryandharra.com. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- "Obituaries in Wilmington, DE | The News Journal". delawareonline.com. Retrieved 2022-04-13.