The digitally edited photo taken by Samuel L. Guy, Esq. is authorized for use by the public.

"The Governors Office of the State of Delaware, in response to my most recent inquiry (6/10/16), left me a voice message stating that the date for the naming ceremony is Friday, July 22, 2016 at 2PM.​"
​Samuel L. Guy, Esq. (former Wilmington City Councilman At-Large)

Leonard L. Williams Justice Center

"Attorney Sam Guy expresses gratitude to his colleagues, the members of Wilmington City Council back in 1997 who supported Ordinance 97-097, thereby providing for the deed restriction that is being honored eighteen (18) years later. The "Leonard L. Williams Justice Center" will now transition from a vision to a reality."
Samuel L. Guy, Esq. (former Wilmington City Councilman At-Large)
 
"The building’s new signage will be unveiled next year."
Delaware Governor Jack Markell  
http://news.delaware.gov/2015/12/11/governor-announces-new-castle-county-courthouse-naming/

Samuel L. Guy. Esq. (2015)

VISION
In 1997 it was apparent that the life lived by The Honorable Leonard L. Williams was truly exceptional and deserving of significant public recognition and appreciation. In 1997, Wilmington City Councilman At-Large, Samuel L. Guy, Esq., converted into legislation an idea designed to Honor Judge Leonard L. Williams that included a deed restriction mechanism. 

ORDINANCE 97-097
On November 20, 1997, then Wilmington City Councilman At-Large, Samuel L. Guy, Esq., commenced the implementation of an idea he had developed through the introduction of Ordinance 97-097 "AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THE NAMING OF ANY COURTHOUSE TO BE LOCATED AT 4th AND WALNUT STREETS AS THE "LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER." Norman Oliver, 4th District Councilman, requested to be added as a co-sponsor. Ordinance 97-097 was duly adopted on December 18, 1997 and signed into law on December 22, 1997.

Ordinance 97-097, in relevant part, reads as follows: "SECTION 1. Any courthouse that is built for the housing of any federal, state, county or city courts in or on the property that is located in that area of the city bounded by 4th, Walnut and King Streets and the vacated 6th Street shall be required to be known as the "Leonard L. Williams Justice Center" as a condition, or as a pre-condition, to any transfer of any interest by the City in the said property by sale, lease, or exchange to the State of Delaware, or to any private person or to any public or private corporation, partnership or other entity.

Further, it shall be a requirement that a statue or wall plaque, similar to ones that are located in and around the Louis L. Redding City/County Building, honoring Louis L. Redding, Esquire shall be included in the design of any such courthouse honoring Judge Leonard L. Williams.

Further, this Ordinance shall be made a part of the Urban Renewal Plan for the area in which the property is located and shall be incorporated as a deed restriction in the deed for the property for recording with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds.

JUSTICE CENTER
The term "Justice Center" was chosen by Attorney Guy because it was aspirational and aligned with a life lived in pursuit of Justice. The "Justice Center" component associated with the naming of the site reflects having a site relating to or characterized by aspiration or a strong desire for justice on the part of all who enter the building. A judicial branch building should clearly be a symbol of Justice. The building's name and signage creates expectations and guides behavior. It is important for all who enter to understand they are expected to have Justice on their mind and be committed to Justice as they enter the Justice Center.
1998 DEED RESTRICTION
On February 4, 1998 the City of Wilmington executed and recorded a deed restriction consistent with Ordinance 0-97-097. The State of Delaware bought the property from the City of Wilmington subject to the deed restriction and a deed was properly recorded on September 30, 1998. The State of Delaware built a courthouse naming the building the New Castle County Courthouse.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The State of Delaware built a courthouse on the property that was subject to the deed restriction. The building was named contrary to the  requirements of the deed restriction. On October 11, 2002, Governor Ruth Anne Minner presented Chief Justice Norman E. Veasey with the keys to the "New Castle County Courthouse" during a grand opening ceremony.

From the time the State of Delaware designed, built, and named the courthouse, to the present, Attorney Guy continuously sought, with the aid of others, compliance with the requirements of the deed restriction.

New Castle County Courthouse

THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JUDGE LEONARD L. WILLIAMS
The Honorable Judge Leonard L. Williams passed away on March 2, 2013. Numerous accolades in honor of Judge Williams were expressed throughout Delaware. Flags were flown at half-staff.

At the funeral service, Reverend Aaron Moore spoke to Governor Jack Markell and suggested that this would be an appropriate time to announce the naming of the courthouse in honor of Judge Williams. The Governor did not respond.

During the funeral, Judge Williams received lofty accolades on behalf of Vice President Joseph Biden and from Governor Jack Markell.

The tragedy in this story is the fact that the Honorable Judge Leonard L. Williams passed away having never had the opportunity to actually see his name on the building that opened in 2002, eleven (11) years prior to his death.

After the burial, Attorney Guy's efforts directed towards compliance with the deed restriction escalated in intensity.

Judge Leonard L. Williams

KUJICHAGULIA
(SELF-DETERMINATION)
Once Judge Williams was buried, Attorney Guy continued to remind the community and government officials of the unfulfilled deed restriction.

On April 4, 2013, Wilmington City  Council passed Resolution 13-019, sponsored by Councilman Darius Brown urging "the State of Delaware, as grantee and legal and equitable owner of the Courthouse  at  500 North King Street, Wilmington, Delaware, to, with great haste, satisfy its agreed upon obligation of naming the New Castle County Courthouse the "Leonard L. Williams Justice Center " in honor of Judge Leonard L. Williams." On June 30, 2015 Attorney Guy met with the Governor's Chief of Staff in Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware to discuss the deed restriction and other documentation. Delaware State Representatives Charles Potter, Jr. and Stephanie T. Bolden, both having previously served as members of Wilmington City Council fully supported compliance with the deed restriction, and expressed their desire to the Governor for the State of Delaware to properly name the judicial facility.

Attorney Sam Guy, Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams and County Councilman Jae Street also held a face to face meeting with the Governor regarding the deed restriction. During November 2015, a community organized courthouse renaming ceremony was being planned for December 27, 2015, the 2nd day of Kwanza, called Kujichagulia (self-determination).

SIGNAGE---LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER
Through perseverance justice has prevailed. On December 11, 2015, Governor Markell announced that the State Of Delaware will "name the New Castle County Courthouse after the late Leonard Williams, the state’s second African-American judge. The building’s new signage will be unveiled next year." "Today’s announcement reflects the Governor’s belief that the state must honor the deed restrictions that existed when the state purchased the property."

1997 WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE POTTER, AND REVEREND MOORE
Attorney Sam Guy expresses gratitude to his colleagues, the members of Wilmington City Council back in 1997 who supported Ordinance 97-097, thereby providing for the deed restriction that is being honored eighteen (18) years later. The "Leonard L. Williams Justice Center" will now transition from a vision to a reality.

State Representative Charles Potter, Jr. and Reverend Aaron Moore have been the two Delawareans who have stuck by me and consistently encouraged me during this long journey.
City Councilman At Large (1997)
Samuel L. Guy, Esq.