Mark Sullivan (jurist)
Encyclopedia
Mark A. Sullivan was an American judge and sat on the New Jersey Supreme Court
for eight years.
Sullivan was born in Jersey City
to Judge Sullivan of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals, which was at the time New Jersey's highest court. Sullivan received his high school education at St. Peter's Preparatory School
, his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University
and his law degree from Harvard Law School
. During World War II he served in the United States Navy
as a combat intelligence officer.
In 1945 he was appointed as a judge in the 2nd District Court of Jersey City. After the 1947 Constitution
changed the structure of the New Jersey judiciary, he sat in the same county
, but now as Presiding Judge of the Hudson County
District Court. In 1953, he was elevated to the New Jersey Superior Court
. In 1959, Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub
, of the New Jersey Supreme Court, assigned him to the Appellate Division of Superior Court. Sullivan was appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court by Governor William T. Cahill
and was sworn in on March 23, 1973. During his eight years on the court he authored many decisions, including the initial reversal of the murder conviction of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
. Sullivan retired from the New Jersey Supreme Court under the mandatory retirement provision of the New Jersey Constitution on August 11, 1981. Sullivan, however, continued to serve the judiciary as an adjunct judge in the Superior Court in Monmouth County
, and in such high-profile cases as the recount of the gubernatorial election in 1981. Sullivan also accepted a number of administrative assignments for the N.J. Supreme Court, including several years service as the chairmanship of the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.
Sullivan was married to Mary Josephine Hamill, the daughter of Congressman James A. Hamill
. Justice Sullivan's wife predeceased him by two years. They had one son.
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
for eight years.
Sullivan was born in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
to Judge Sullivan of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals, which was at the time New Jersey's highest court. Sullivan received his high school education at St. Peter's Preparatory School
St. Peter's Preparatory School
Saint Peter's Preparatory School is a private all-male Jesuit college-preparatory school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA...
, his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and his law degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. During World War II he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a combat intelligence officer.
In 1945 he was appointed as a judge in the 2nd District Court of Jersey City. After the 1947 Constitution
New Jersey State Constitution
The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies, the state has been governed by three constitutions...
changed the structure of the New Jersey judiciary, he sat in the same county
Hudson County Courthouse
The Hudson County Courthouse or Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The six-story structure was originally built between 1906 and 1910 at a cost of $3,328,016.56...
, but now as Presiding Judge of the Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
District Court. In 1953, he was elevated to the New Jersey Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
. In 1959, Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub
Joseph Weintraub
Joseph Weintraub was Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1957 to 1973. He previously served as an Associate Justice of the same court in 1956-57.-Biography:Among the landmark decisions authored by Weintraub was Robinson v...
, of the New Jersey Supreme Court, assigned him to the Appellate Division of Superior Court. Sullivan was appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court by Governor William T. Cahill
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
and was sworn in on March 23, 1973. During his eight years on the court he authored many decisions, including the initial reversal of the murder conviction of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
Rubin Carter
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter fought professionally as a middleweight boxer from 1961 to 1966. In 1966, he was arrested for a triple homicide in the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Paterson, New Jersey...
. Sullivan retired from the New Jersey Supreme Court under the mandatory retirement provision of the New Jersey Constitution on August 11, 1981. Sullivan, however, continued to serve the judiciary as an adjunct judge in the Superior Court in Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, and in such high-profile cases as the recount of the gubernatorial election in 1981. Sullivan also accepted a number of administrative assignments for the N.J. Supreme Court, including several years service as the chairmanship of the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.
Sullivan was married to Mary Josephine Hamill, the daughter of Congressman James A. Hamill
James A. Hamill
James Alphonsus Hamill was an attorney and American Democratic Party politician. He served as U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 10th and 12th Congressional Districts.-Biography:...
. Justice Sullivan's wife predeceased him by two years. They had one son.
External links
- Photograph of the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1972, Justice Sullivan at the left.