Background
Quinlee Jenkins appealed a September 9, 2026 Family Court order in a dispute with Aaron Jordan. The Delaware Supreme Court concluded from the notice of appeal that Jenkins appeared to be seeking review of an interlocutory order.
Court staff sent Jenkins a certified-mail notice to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed for failure to comply with Delaware Supreme Court Rule 42, which governs interlocutory appeals. Postal records showed delivery on October 10, 2026, but Jenkins did not respond within the required ten-day period.
The Court’s Holding
The Delaware Supreme Court dismissed the appeal under Supreme Court Rules 3(b) and 29(b).
Because Jenkins did not respond to the show-cause notice, the Court deemed dismissal unopposed. The order did not reach the merits of the Family Court dispute.
Key Takeaways
- An appeal that appears interlocutory must comply with Rule 42’s procedures.
- Failure to answer a show-cause notice can cause dismissal to be treated as unopposed.
- The dismissal resolved only the appeal’s procedural status, not the underlying Family Court matter.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that litigants seeking immediate appellate review of a nonfinal Family Court order must follow Delaware’s interlocutory-appeal process. Ignoring a Supreme Court show-cause notice can result in prompt dismissal without merits review.