Richard Stephen Gebelein (June 8, 1946 – December 22, 2021) was an American politician and jurist who served as the Attorney General of Delaware from 1979 through 1983, as a judge on the Delaware Superior Court from 1984 through 2005, and as an international judge in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At age 21, Gebelein was elected the youngest magistrate in the Magisterial District Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Gebelein went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1970.

Gebelein was admitted to the state Bars of the Delaware Supreme Court and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in November 1971.

From 1980 through 1983, Gebelein served as a member of the Legislative and chairman of the Institutions and Corrections Subcommittees of the National Association of Attorneys General as well as the member of the United States Department of Justice, Executive Working Group.

In that role, Gebelein was tasked with enforcing the Board’s attorney rules of conduct, investigating, and prosecuting matters related to ethical violations.

From September 2004 through March 2005, Gebelein, a Colonel in the Delaware Army National Guard, and Staff Judge Advocate General, was deployed to Afghanistan, and assisted in helping to rebuild its judicial system as Rule of Law Officer for the Combined Forces Command during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Biden, a Democrat, received some praise for reaching across party lines in appointing Gebelein, a Republican.

[16] The multi-year project was designed to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the judicial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.