Justice James T. Vaughn Jr. announced Tuesday that he plans to retire from the Delaware Supreme Court on May 1, leaving the state court system after nearly 25 years.

Vaughn, 73, is the second longest-serving justice currently serving on the Supreme Court, having been appointed to the bench by Gov. Jack Markell in 2014 three months after Justice Karen Valihura. His appointment followed six years as Kent County’s resident Superior Court judge, followed by 10 years as president judge.