{"id":18828,"date":"2025-10-23T15:48:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T19:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18828"},"modified":"2026-02-27T13:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:58:07","slug":"bringing-justice-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/23\/bringing-justice-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Justice Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53\"]{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#808080;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53 wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18828_8ce023-53\">Guided by experience and purpose, Wilmington University School of Law\u2019s new dean,\u00a0 <strong>The Honorable Jan R. Jurden<\/strong>, is building a legal community that\u2019s ready to serve. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/administration\/dean.aspx\">Judge Jan R. Jurden<\/a><\/strong> has never been one to shy away from uncharted paths. With a career spanning nearly four decades, she has broken barriers and elevated the legal profession in Delaware. Now, as dean of the <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\">Wilmington University School of Law<\/a>, she is poised to shape the next generation of legal minds with the same purpose and integrity that have defined her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 speaks volumes \u2014 rich with published works that reflect a commitment to justice, public service, and judicial ethics, influencing legal thought well beyond the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But her body of work is only part of what defines her. At the heart of Jurden\u2019s journey is a respect for humanity and a drive to serve \u2014 qualities imparted long before she stepped into a courtroom. Those values, she says, were instilled in her by her parents. She credits them with shaping her sense of purpose and perspective.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image18828_69db92-ef.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image18828_69db92-ef .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:350px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18828_69db92-ef.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18828_69db92-ef .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image18828_69db92-ef figure{max-width:350px;}.kb-image18828_69db92-ef .image-is-svg, .kb-image18828_69db92-ef .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image18828_69db92-ef .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18828_69db92-ef wu-pattern-non-featured-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1948\" height=\"2435\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"The honorable Jan R. Jurden\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-18840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1.jpg 1948w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1-384x480.jpg 384w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250501-MUG-Jan_Jurdan-3293-Edit-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1948px) 100vw, 1948px\" \/><figcaption>The Honorable Jan R. Jurden<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy father tried to enter World War II before graduating from high school,\u201d she says. \u201cEven though he was an only son and had a disabled father and could\u2019ve been deferred, he wanted to do it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her father, <strong>John R. \u201cJack\u201d Jurden<\/strong>, graduated from Pennsylvania\u2019s Allentown High School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a member of the 77th Division in the Pacific during the war. He married Faye Werley in 1952 and, after moving to Wilmington, began a 39-year career as The News Journal\u2019s beloved editorial cartoonist \u2014 a role that made him a local legend. His work earned a place on the walls of presidents and public officials, including former <strong>President Joe Biden<\/strong>. When his daughter, Jan, arrived at the Delaware Legislature for her confirmation hearing, she saw one of her father\u2019s cartoons \u2014 depicting the Legislature itself \u2014 hanging on the wall. His presence was unmistakable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, too, was the quiet strength of her mother, <strong>Faye<\/strong>, whom she calls \u201cintrepid.\u201d Faye stepped away from professional life to focus on raising Jan and her sister, Jenifer, also a talented cartoonist. Faye, an accomplished pianist, later re-entered the workforce and faced a world unaccustomed to ambitious women. She was denied credit in her name and often found herself the only woman in meetings aside from administrative staff. But she persevered, taking on demanding roles in corporate and nonprofit settings. To her daughters, Faye was a trailblazer \u2014 someone who redefined what was possible, regardless of gender.\u00a0\u201cI used to see my mother get ready for work, and I thought she was so brave,\u201d Jurden says. \u201cShe went to college at a time when the two acceptable majors for women were music and nursing. She had to learn a lot of skills, and she did.\u201d Faye was a Music major at Moravian College, where she was also president of her senior class.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From her father, Jurden inherited a sense of civic responsibility and the importance of expression; from her mother, she drew grace and determination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was the youngest child of two,\u201d says Jurden. \u201cI was fixated on what they were up to because I was the baby. So, I think I absorbed a lot of courage by watching them both take risks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turning \u2018Green\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden entered the army at 17, rising to the rank of sergeant and earning multiple commendations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and Soldier of the Year \u2014 three times. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her deployment was formative, but initially frightening. \u201cTalk about stepping off a cliff,\u201d she says. \u201cI signed up before senior year, made it through basic training, and landed in Germany for my permanent assignment on New Year\u2019s Eve. It was cold and dark, and they threw me into a room. I was so homesick and scared. I remember thinking, \u2018What have I done?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next morning, a soldier who had helped process her noticed she was alone. \u201cHe took me around, showed me everything, and became my first friend there.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:406px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 figure{max-width:406px;}.kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 .image-is-svg, .kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18828_ff5f1a-e4 wu-pattern-non-featured-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2299\" height=\"1533\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548.jpg\" alt=\"Dean Jan Jurden speaking\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-18842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548.jpg 2299w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20250430-LAW-EoY25-3548-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2299px) 100vw, 2299px\" \/><figcaption><em><span style=\"color: #808080\"><em>In 2015, Jurden made history as the first woman to serve as president judge of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.<\/em><\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Her time in the military cemented her respect for humanity. She had come of age during Delaware\u2019s school desegregation years, when tensions ran high. \u201cThere were some ugly incidents during desegregation,\u201d she says. \u201cYou had two groups of kids who had never socialized suddenly thrown together in their senior year.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The army presented a different model. \u201cEverybody was \u2018green,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cIt didn\u2019t matter if you were a man or a woman or what race you were. Everyone had the same opportunity, and that felt right to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there were few women in her company, the diversity of the unit \u2014 soldiers from across the United States and the Philippines \u2014 left a lasting impression. \u201cIt was a wonderful experience,\u201d she says. \u201cOne I never would\u2019ve had if I hadn\u2019t left Wilmington.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden spent a year in college while stationed overseas, then returned to study at the University of Delaware for another year. She did well, making the dean\u2019s list, \u201cbut it was too big,\u201d she says. \u201cI needed a smaller environment after being in the army.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She transferred to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, drawn by its intimate setting and deep family roots \u2014 her parents had both grown up there, and her grandparents had lived there until their passing. Jurden didn\u2019t go home much, instead settling into life as a student-athlete playing varsity field hockey and lacrosse. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Dickinson School of Law, Jurden graduated in the top 10% of her class. There, her leadership, advocacy skills, and academic excellence laid the groundwork for a stunning career.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Compassion Meets Law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden\u2019s commitment to justice was shaped in the classroom and through personal experience. \u201cWhen I was in the army, I watched somebody get abused by their significant other,\u201d she says. \u201cI had no exposure to that until then, and I was horrified and traumatized.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The experience stayed with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After law school, Jurden clerked for <strong>Judge Keith B. Quigley<\/strong>, then the president judge for two Pennsylvania counties and the equivalent of a Superior Court judge in Delaware. In 1987, she joined the Wilmington firm Young Conaway Stargatt &amp; Taylor, LLP as a summer associate. With the firm\u2019s support, she took on pro bono domestic violence cases early on. She became a partner at Young Conaway in 1996 and was appointed to the Delaware Superior Court five years later.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mental health had always mattered deeply to Jurden, and she can point to the moment that galvanized her resolve: \u201cI\u2019d been on the bench for years,\u201d she says, \u201cand a colleague came in, and he threw this file on my desk, and he was&nbsp;very frustrated. He said, \u2018I don\u2019t know how we expect people to successfully complete a probation when they\u2019ve got an addiction and serious mental health issues.\u2019 I said, \u2018I feel the exact same way. We keep seeing the same people.\u2019 It was a revolving door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That moment sparked the idea that would ultimately become Delaware\u2019s Mental Health Court \u2014 the state\u2019s first felony-level mental health court. She proposed creating a specialized court for individuals with mental health and addiction issues, involving experts, early intervention, tailored treatment plans, ongoing monitoring, and regular court check-ins tied to specific benchmarks, including medication compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then-President <strong>Judge James T. Vaughn Jr. <\/strong>gave her the green light \u2014 but with a caveat: she\u2019d have to launch the court without any new resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That could\u2019ve been a dealbreaker. But for Jurden, it was a beginning. \u201cThis is the story I love,\u201d she says, \u201cbecause it shows what Delaware is capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She called then\u2013Attorney General <strong>Beau Biden<\/strong>. (He died of brain cancer in 2015.) \u201cHe was totally in favor of this,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd I reached out to the public defender\u2019s office. We sat down at a table and worked out how it would work. We also had the buy-in of both the prosecution and the defense. We got the treatment providers on board. Rita Landgraf was the secretary of the DHSS (Delaware Health and Social Services) at the time. Everybody came together. Before you knew it, we started it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Launched in 2008, Delaware\u2019s Mental Health Court has become a lifeline for people with addiction and untreated mental illness, proving that compassion and collaboration can reshape the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cDean Jurden\u2019s legal expertise and thoughtful leadership are inspiring our law students, faculty, and staff, and she is enriching the School of Law\u2019s already strong learning environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite><em>\u2014Dr. LaVerne Harmon<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, Jurden made history as the first woman to serve as president judge of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. Over the next decade, she expanded access to justice and championed reforms for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges caught up in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the pandemic hit in 2020, new concerns emerged. One of the most troubling was a sharp rise in domestic violence. \u201cStrangulation cases went through the roof,\u201d says Jurden. \u201cIt was awful: people out of work, in close quarters, nowhere to escape.\u201d (According to supremecourt.gov, non-fatal strangulation increases the risk of homicide by 800% at the hands of the same partner.) She served on the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for several years and remains committed to strengthening early intervention because, without it, the cycle of abuse too often goes unchecked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These challenges drove Jurden\u2019s work inside and outside the courtroom. She co-founded the Sisters in Success program for incarcerated women, chaired the Criminal Justice Mental Health Special Needs Committee, and served on the Family Justice Center Steering Committee \u2014 initiatives grounded in her belief that the justice system must hold people accountable while also helping them heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to her judicial work, Jurden has long shared her knowledge in the classroom. She began teaching in 1988 at what was then Wilmington College, where she led courses on Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care. Over the years, she has taught at Dickinson, Widener University School of Law, and the University of Delaware.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coming Full Circle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden\u2019s distinguished career has been marked by a long list of honors and recognitions, including induction into the Delaware Women\u2019s Hall of Fame and the Delaware State Bar Association\u2019s Women\u2019s Leadership Award. Yet what endures most is the impact she\u2019s had as a mentor, supporting others as she was once supported. Whether walking a young lawyer through their first trial or helping shape judicial ethics policy, she has consistently made space for others to thrive, never forgetting those who did the same for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As dean of the Wilmington University School of Law, she is bringing her commitment to public service full circle. The school\u2019s mission to provide accessible, real-world legal education aligns with her lifelong focus on justice, empathy, and practical reform. She\u2019s not just building a law school \u2014 she\u2019s cultivating a legal community focused on serving the public and advancing justice where it\u2019s needed most.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDean Jurden leads with her heart and mind, and she has the integrity, humility, and commitment to service that we value,\u201d says Wilmington University President <strong>Dr. LaVerne Harmon<\/strong>. \u201cHer legal expertise and thoughtful leadership are inspiring our law students, faculty, and staff, and she is enriching the School of Law\u2019s already strong learning environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden is honored to work alongside President Harmon and the University\u2019s Board of Trustees, whose shared vision and support have made it possible to turn bold ideas into meaningful progress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe longstanding mission of Wilmington University \u2014 and the law school \u2014 is to teach students and get them out into the community,\u201d Jurden says. \u201cWe want to serve the surrounding area by producing students who are ready to go, no matter what profession they choose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessibility and affordability are key, hence the competitive tuition, she says. \u201cBecause it shouldn\u2019t just be people with infinite wealth who get to go to law school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Dean Jan Jurden clapping in an audience\" class=\"wp-image-18843\" style=\"width:544px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20221027-Law_Event-R5b-7754-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>WilmU\u2019s law students will be ready to practice law and think like lawyers the moment they graduate, she says, and bar passage is critical. \u201cThey need to pass the bar exam. And we\u2019re going to make sure they\u2019re ready to take that test. They\u2019ll be tested in all sorts of different formats. We\u2019ll test them the way the bar will test them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She acknowledges that this focus can raise eyebrows. \u201c\u2018Teaching to the test\u2019 gets a bad name,\u201d she says. \u201cBut when I went to law school \u2014 and I think this is still true for a lot of schools \u2014 you learn the black-letter law, which is the statutes and rules. You spend an awful lot of time talking about one or two cases for weeks. You go through the Socratic method. It\u2019s fascinating, but not all of it is very useful when you get into private practice or public service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, WilmU\u2019s School of Law aims to equip students with what Jurden calls \u201cthe nuts and bolts.\u201d That means combining deep legal knowledge with rigorous, practical training. \u201cWe are offering a great education for people who want to come out ready to do just about anything they put their mind to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For her, the law is more than a profession \u2014 it\u2019s a guiding force in a democratic society. \u201cIt\u2019s the law that is promulgated in a careful democratic process,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s the guiding light. It\u2019s how we live. It\u2019s the norms that are enshrined in our laws, statutes, and regulations. It\u2019s the Constitution \u2014 the document that formed our government, defined how we wanted to be ruled, and established a balance of powers and checks and balances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In that system, lawyers play a crucial role. \u201cLawyers and lawsuits become necessary to make sure the rule of law is followed,\u201d says Jurden. But in Delaware \u2014 and across the country \u2014 she sees a growing gap. \u201cI\u2019m concerned that we don\u2019t have enough homegrown lawyers who want to stay and open up practices in their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI hope my journey encourages others to lead with kindness and respect, to work hard, and to help clear the way for those who follow,\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Dean Jan R. Jurden<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Delaware is rightly known as a national hub for corporate and commercial law. \u201cWe\u2019ve become such a haven, in a good way, for business, given how many Fortune 500 companies are incorporated here and our reputation for excellence in the Court of Chancery,\u201d says Jurden. \u201cBut people need good, affordable lawyers, and we want to supply those lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That community focus is at the heart of the Wilmington University School of Law. \u201cThat\u2019s not our only focus, but it\u2019s a huge one,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause there comes a point where, if you have a huge corporate bar, that\u2019s wonderful for the state. But then, what about somebody who has a family court case and wants representation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden is concerned about the lack of legal representation in one of the most personal and emotionally charged areas of law. \u201cOver 75% of family court litigants are self-represented,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Fairness for All Task Force report from the Delaware Judiciary confirms that figure. \u201cIn my way of thinking, they carry the most precious jurisdiction there is: your children, your marriage,\u201d says Jurden. \u201cIt\u2019s emotional. And to not have legal representation because you can\u2019t afford it \u2014 in a court of that magnitude \u2014 is disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals attempting to represent themselves must navigate complex legal procedures independently. The courts offer self-help centers, forms, brochures, and hotlines, but those tools don\u2019t make up for the experience and training a lawyer brings. People recognize the need for legal assistance; many can\u2019t afford it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe also need local real estate lawyers \u2014 not huge commercial firms, we\u2019ve got that already,\u201d Jurden says. \u201cBut we don\u2019t have what you might think of as your local lawyer. There are some smaller firms, which is great. They\u2019re not priced out of the market. But the average citizen can\u2019t afford $600, $700, or $800 an hour for legal representation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where WilmU comes in. \u201cWe provide legal education that is accessible and affordable,\u201d says Jurden.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut also, we train lawyers to serve a wide range of clients. They\u2019re going to know the black-letter law. They\u2019re going to have been rigorously tested. They\u2019re going to pass the bar. And they\u2019re going to be ready to go,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019ll be confident representing all kinds of people, not just corporations, and they will serve all three Delaware counties. They will take what they learn and apply it to every situation. Our grads will make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jurden feels a sense of renewal when she meets new law students. \u201cI\u2019ve come from 24 years of having a wonderful career as a judge and loving it, though I\u2019ve seen a lot of the horrible things that can happen to people. It wasn\u2019t always uplifting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But at Wilmington University, she says, \u201cI\u2019m reminded how much good there is and how much promise there is in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She had offers from various firms after retiring from the bench. She chose WilmU. Calling this deanship her final professional chapter, she says she feels privileged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hope my journey encourages others to lead with kindness and respect, to work hard, and to help clear the way for those who follow,\u201d Jurden says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She knows her sense of purpose can be traced back to two special people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think if they were here, my guideposts, my mom and dad, would say I\u2019m exactly where I belong.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2014 Maria Hess<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post footer logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17727\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; 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Explore our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/category\/magazine\/\">magazine articles<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guided by experience and purpose, Wilmington University School of Law\u2019s new dean,\u00a0 The Honorable Jan R. 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