Timothy Sullivan (Irish judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timothy Sullivan
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| 2nd Chief Justice of Ireland | |
| In office 1 December 1936 – 1 June 1946 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Douglas Hyde |
| Preceded by | Hugh Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Conor Maguire |
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 12 May 1924 – 1 June 1946 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Tim Healy |
| President of the High Court | |
| In office 14 February 1924 – 1 December 1936 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Tim Healy |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Conor Maguire |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 10 February 1924 – 1 December 1936 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Tim Healy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Timothy Michael Sullivan
6 January 1874 Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 12 May 1949 (aged 75) Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | Maeve Healy (m. 1913; d. 1949) |
| Relations |
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| Alma mater | |
Timothy Michael Sullivan (born January 6, 1874 – died May 12, 1949) was an important Irish judge. He served as the Chief Justice of Ireland from 1936 to 1946. Before that, he was a judge in the Supreme Court of Ireland and the President of the High Court.
Early Life and Family Background
Timothy Sullivan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1874. His father, Timothy Daniel Sullivan, was a well-known politician. He was a MP and even served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Timothy's mother was Catherine Healy. Her brother was Timothy Michael Healy, who became the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State. This shows that Timothy came from a family deeply involved in Irish public life.
In 1895, Timothy Sullivan became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. This was the start of his long career in law.
Judicial Career and Key Roles
In 1913, Timothy Sullivan married Maeve Healy. She was an artist and the daughter of Timothy Michael Healy. Maeve painted a famous picture of her husband in his judge's robes.
Because of his family's strong support for Irish independence, Timothy was a good choice for the new Irish Free State government. In 1924, he was appointed President of the High Court. This was a very important role.
Later, in 1936, he became the Chief Justice of Ireland. He held this top judicial position until he retired in 1946.
Important Decisions and Legacy
One of Timothy Sullivan's most famous decisions was in 1940. The Supreme Court, led by him, said that a new law was constitutional. This law allowed people suspected of being in the IRA to be held without trial for a long time.
There was some discussion about how the court made this decision. This led to a change in the Irish Constitution in 1941. The change made sure that in such important cases, only one judgment would be given by the court.
People who knew Timothy Sullivan described him as a kind and serious person. A writer named Maurice Healy, who was his cousin, wrote about him in a book. Another judge, Mr. Justice MacKenzie, remembered him as an "old-fashioned Irish gentleman."
