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Chautauqua County Family Court Judge Michael Sullivan is seeking re-election.
"As a Family Court Judge, I have the responsibility to apply my experience and knowledge to impact the lives of children, parents, and families at the most difficult moments of their lives. I take that responsibility very seriously, and I am asking the voters of Chautauqua County for the opportunity to continue that work," Sullivan said.
Sullivan emphasized that Family Court requires more than knowledge of the law. It requires patience, compassion, careful listening, and the ability to make tough decisions while keeping the best interests of children and the needs of families at the center of the process.
"Family Court is about people," Sullivan said. "It is about protecting children, supporting families, and making sure that everyone who appears before the court has an opportunity to be heard. I believe my experience and commitment to public service have prepared me to continue meeting those responsibilities, experience matters."
During his time on the bench, Sullivan has continued his work with the New York State Court Improvement Project, an initiative focused on strengthening the child welfare and Family Court systems and improving outcomes for children and families. These efforts bring together attorneys, court personnel, social-service professionals, and community organizations to address complex issues that regularly come before Family Court.
"During my term we implemented the Better for Families Program which replaced the drug treatment court. We have implemented the Federal Governments Family First legislation and we worked through the COVID Pandemic," Judge Sullivan said.
Judge Sullivan has been assigned 16,000 petitions filed in Chautauqua County Family Court and 850 more in Cattaraugus County. He also serves as an acting Supreme Court and County Court Judge, handling conflict cases from those Chautauqua County courts.
"I am proud of the work we have accomplished, we have worked to be a trauma informed court, but there is still important work to be done," Sullivan said. "I look forward to continuing to serve the families of Chautauqua County with fairness, independence, and dedication that they deserve."
His involvement with other courts in the Court Improvement Project has provided him with a broader perspective on the challenges facing Family Courts and the importance of collaboration among judges, attorneys, social-service agencies, and other professionals.
"Solving family issues require more than simply applying the law," Sullivan said. "It requires listening, understanding the circumstances before the court, dealing with parties where they are at and recognizing that the decisions we make can affect a child and the family for years to come. My work with the Court Improvement Program has reinforced for me the importance of continually looking for ways to make our system better."
Judge Sullivan was first elected Family Court Judge in 2016. Before becoming Judge, Sullivan had 30 years of experience as an attorney, his last 20 years focused on family law. He served as the liaison from Chautauqua County to the Attorney for the Child program and a member of the New York State Child Welfare Court Improvement Project steering committee. In addition, he assisted with the development of the Family Court Drug treatment program 25 years ago and upon taking office began implementing the Better for Families court calendar to address substance issues in families and seeking appropriate treatment in a timely fashion.
Sullivan is a graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton. He remains a member of the Northern Chautauqua County Bar Association.
Sullivan has served 43 years as a volunteer firefighter and continues to respond with the Fredonia Fire Department. He served 25 years as a member of the Dunkirk Fredonia Salvation Army Advisory Board. He was for 14 years a member of the SUNY Fredonia College Council from 1997 until 2011. He is a former mayor of the village of Fredonia.
"I am proud of the opportunity the voters gave me in 2016 to serve as their Family Court Judge," Sullivan said. "After decades of practicing law and a decade on the bench, I remain committed to serving the people of Chautauqua County. I am asking voters for the opportunity to continue that service."
Judge Sullivan is endorsed by the Republican and Conservative Parties.