[5] In 1929, Richards was appointed by Governor C. Douglass Buck to the position of Resident Judge of Sussex County, taking office on June 3, 1929.
[3] On August 13, 1945, Governor Walter W. Bacon nominated Richards as chief justice shortly after withdrawing his nomination of Daniel J. Layton for the seat.
[1][3] While serving in the court, Richards "helped in the fight to keep the traditional look in the rebuilding of the Sussex County Courthouse".
[2] Richards "was cited as one of six judges who helped build the body of case law in the corporate field".
[3] Richards was hospitalized at Beebe Memorial Hospital in Lewes for a broken hip in September 1971, and died weeks later, after a short illness, at the age of 93.