Speaking on the occasion, the firm’s Chairman Michael P. Kelly said, “Peggy is a dear friend of mine who has had a long career as a leader on the bench and in the courtroom … She has played a significant role in shaping Delaware law for the past three decades and is nationally known and admired in the toxic tort arena.”
Peggy Ableman began her career as a judge in the Delaware Family Court, where she served for 17 years. At the Superior Court, she presided over the asbestos litigation docket for close to two years. The asbestos litigation comprised litigants from all across the world.
Before becoming a judge, Ableman was the first female Assistant United States Attorney for the District for Delaware from 1979 to 1983. In 1995, she received the first Chief Justice’s Award for Outstanding Judicial Service.
Currently, she teaches as an adjunct professor at the Villanova School of Law.
Speaking about her entering private law practice again, Ableman said, “I have always had a deep respect for Mike and McCarter … I am eager to practice law again, particularly in the area of product liability, which continues to have a broad and complex array of issues and industries to litigate.”
A judge, who was known to be fully committed to her tasks, Ableman made national headlines during the asbestos litigation by ordering all lawyers in the case to attend civility training during the Labor Day weekend.