Emmet G. Sullivan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emmet Sullivan
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| Assumed office April 3, 2021 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| In office June 16, 1994 – April 3, 2021 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Louis F. Oberdorfer |
| Succeeded by | Jia M. Cobb |
| Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals | |
| In office 1992–1994 |
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| Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | James A. Belson |
| Succeeded by | Inez Smith Reid |
| Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1984–1992 |
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| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Brook Hedge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Emmet Gael Sullivan
June 4, 1947 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | Howard University (BA, JD) |
Emmet Gael Sullivan (born June 4, 1947) is an American lawyer and judge. He serves as a senior federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This means he handles important legal cases for the U.S. government.
Judge Sullivan earned his college and law degrees from Howard University. He worked as a lawyer for over ten years. He was appointed to different courts by three different U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
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Early life and education
Emmet Sullivan was born in Washington, D.C., in 1947. He went to local schools there. In 1964, he graduated from McKinley Technology High School.
He then went to Howard University, which is a historically black university. In 1968, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. In 1971, he received his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from the Howard University School of Law.
Career as a lawyer and judge
After law school, Emmet Sullivan worked for a program that helped people who couldn't afford legal help. He also worked as a law clerk for a judge named James A. Washington Jr..
In 1973, Sullivan joined a law firm called Houston & Gardner. This firm was co-founded by Charles Hamilton Houston, a very important lawyer who worked to end unfair racial laws. Sullivan became a partner at this firm, meaning he was one of the main leaders. He worked on many different types of legal cases. He also taught law classes at Howard University and Harvard Law School.
Appointments to courts
President Ronald Reagan appointed Emmet Sullivan to be a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1984. This court handles many local cases in Washington, D.C.
Then, in 1991, President George H. W. Bush appointed him to be an Associate Judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts in D.C.
Federal judicial service
In 1994, President Bill Clinton nominated Emmet Sullivan to become a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This is a federal court, meaning it handles cases that involve U.S. laws or the U.S. government. The United States Senate approved his appointment, and he officially became a federal judge on June 16, 1994.
On April 3, 2021, Judge Sullivan took on "senior status." This means he still works as a judge but can handle a smaller number of cases.
Important cases
Judge Sullivan has overseen many important cases during his time as a federal judge.
Cases about government information
In 2014, Judge Sullivan oversaw a case about emails from a former government employee. He worked to find out what happened to deleted emails and computer information.
In 2015, he also handled a case about how a former Secretary of State used private emails for government work. This case was about the Freedom of Information Act, which allows people to ask for government records.
Helping asylum seekers
In 2018, Judge Sullivan made a very important decision in a case involving a mother and child seeking asylum in the U.S. They had fled danger in their home country, El Salvador. Even though they were supposed to wait for the judge's decision, the mother was put on a plane to be sent back.
Judge Sullivan immediately demanded, "Turn that plane around!" He said he would hold government officials responsible if the plane was not turned back. Because of his order, the mother and child were returned to the U.S. so their case could be heard fairly.
Rules for the Post Office
In 2020, Judge Sullivan gave orders to the USPS (the Post Office) before Election Day. He told them to allow more trips and overtime for mail delivery. He also ordered the Post Office to check their facilities in important states multiple times a day to make sure all ballots were delivered on time. When the USPS didn't meet a deadline, Judge Sullivan ordered the Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, to explain why in court.
Title 42 ruling
In 2022, Judge Sullivan made a big decision about a rule called Title 42 expulsion. This rule had been used by presidents to stop people seeking asylum from entering the U.S. Judge Sullivan ruled that Title 42 was against the law. He said it was an "arbitrary and capricious" (meaning unfair and unreasonable) violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
His ruling meant that the U.S. government had to go back to processing asylum seekers under normal immigration laws. He also pointed out that the CDC had ignored the negative effects of Title 42. This decision was praised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a group that works to protect people's rights.
See also
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Judge Emmet Sullivan
