Judge Michael J. Sullivan: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Michael J. Sullivan is a judge for the Chautauqua County Family Court in the Eighth Judicial District of New York. He was elected to the Family Court bench in 2017. He filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Judith Claire (Ret.).

He is a registered Republican.

Judge Sullivan received his B.A. from the University of Dayton in 1981. He went on to earn a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1984.

Prior to joining the bench, Sullivan had maintained a private law practice since 1986 and worked for seven years as a deputy county attorney with the Chautauqua County Department of Law (1985 to 1992). During his tenure in private practice, he also served as the Chautauqua County liaison to the Appellate Court’s Attorney for the Child Program for twenty years.

In addition to his law practice, Sullivan served as the Mayor of the Village of Fredonia from 2007 to 2011.

His memberships have included the Erie County Bar Association, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, and the State University of Fredonia College Council. He served on the Board of Directors of the Chautauqua County Court Appointed Special Advocate and the Chautauqua County Legal Services, was a chairman of the Dunkirk Salvation Army, and a past president of the Northern Chautauqua County Bar Association.

Sullivan has also been a member of the Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department since 1984.