Education
Providence College.
Providence College.
He has served as Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Connecticut Appellate Court by Government. John G. Rowland in 1997 and remained there until his elevation to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1999.
Justice Sullivan was nominated to be Chief Justice by Government.
Rowland in 2000 and was appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2001. The court became embroiled in a lengthy ethics scandal in 2006 when it was revealed that retiring Chief Justice Sullivan postponed the publication of a controversial decision opposing Freedom of Information Acting requests for documents that track the status and history of legal cases in the Connecticut legal system until hearings for his nominated successor Justice Peter T. Zarella were completed.
Legislators speculated that Sullivan delayed the publication of the court"s opinion because he feared it might damage Zarella"s chances of becoming Chief Justice. Both justices ruled in favor of the restrictions.
Governor M. Jodi Rell accepted the withdrawal of Zarella"s nomination to be Chief Justice.
After Sullivan"s actions were reported, Sullivan was referred to the Judicial Review Council, which suspended him for violating judicial ethics rules. This suspension is being appealed. During a judiciary committee hearing in which Sullivan was questioned, he apologized for his actions.
Justice Sullivan remains active as a Judge Trial Referee, sitting regularly with the Appellate Court.