Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                               A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

                                              24-22

                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                          April 6, 2021

To recognize, honor, and celebrate the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan, United States District Judge

       for the District of Columbia, for his exemplary service and contributions to the District of

       Columbia and its residents, on the occasion of his taking senior status.

        WHEREAS, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan was born in the District of Columbia on June 4,

1947;

        WHEREAS, in 1964, Judge Sullivan graduated from McKinley High School;

       WHEREAS, in 1968, Judge Sullivan received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political

Science from Howard University;

       WHEREAS, in 1971, Judge Sullivan earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Howard

University School of Law;

       WHEREAS, upon his graduation from law school, Judge Sullivan received the Reginald

Heber Smith Fellowship in poverty law, and he was placed with the Neighborhood Legal

Services Program;

      WHEREAS, following his fellowship, Judge Sullivan clerked for the Honorable James A.

Washington, Jr. of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;

      WHEREAS, from 1973 to 1980, Judge Sullivan practiced law at the storied firm of

Houston & Gardner;

        WHEREAS, while at Houston & Gardner, Judge Sullivan was a member of a number of

bar associations, served on various court advisory and rules committees, and was admitted to

practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the

District of Columbia Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the

United States Court of Military Appeals, the United States Tax Court, and the District of Columbia

Court of Appeals;

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      WHEREAS, from 1980 to 1984, Judge Sullivan was a partner in the successor firm to

Houston & Gardner, Houston, Sullivan & Gardner;

        WHEREAS, in October 1984, Judge Sullivan was appointed by President Ronald Reagan

to serve as an Associate Judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, becoming one

of only 7 judges in the 24-year history of the Superior Court to have served full-time in every

division;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan was active in court leadership and administration, serving as

Deputy Presiding Judge and Presiding Judge of the Probate and Tax Divisions, as well as a member

of the Courts Rules Committee and Jury Plan Committee;

       WHEREAS, in November 1991, Judge Sullivan was appointed by President George H. W.

Bush to serve as an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals;

        WHEREAS, in June 1994, Judge Sullivan was appointed by President William J. Clinton

to serve as United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of

Columbia, becoming the first person in the District to have been appointed by 3 Presidents to 3

judicial positions;

      WHEREAS, since his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Sullivan has continuously

demonstrated his commitment to District residents and its legal system, also serving on the

Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure and the Judicial Nomination Commission;

      WHEREAS, the Districts judiciary and residents have benefitted tremendously from

Judge Sullivans thoughtful, strategic, and inclusive leadership of the Judicial Nomination

Commission, which he has chaired since 2005;

       WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan is the recipient of many honors, most recently receiving the

National Bar Associations Gertrude E. Rush Award and the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion

of Merit awarded by the Washington Bar Association, and he was named Judge of the Year for

2017 by the Bar Association of the District of Columbia;

      WHEREAS, in 2019, Georgetown University awarded Judge Sullivan the degree of Doctor

of Laws, Honoris Causa;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has taught as an adjunct professor at the Howard University

School of Law and the American University Washington College of Law, and he has served as

visiting faculty at Harvard Law Schools Trial Advocacy Workshop;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan models judicial independence and impartiality; intellectual

rigor; creativity and approachability; respect for the law and those who come before him; the

indefatigable pursuit of justice and equity; and compassion for all;

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        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has presided over many notable cases during his tenure on the

Districts various courts, consistently ensuring due process protections and accountability for all

parties, including the government;

       WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has demonstrated steadfast and unwavering commitment to

serving the residents of his hometown, including as a founding Director of the Abramson

Scholarship Foundation, which provides college scholarships and mentorship to District high

school graduates;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has shown unwavering support for statehood and autonomy

for the District;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Districts judiciary

reflects the diversity of its people in all respects;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan has been an influential leader and mentor to many in the

Districts and United States legal communities, including the Black legal community, for decades;

        WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan is deeply respected by his colleagues, students, attorneys,

litigants, public officials, and other community members;

       WHEREAS, Judge Sullivan is beloved by his family; and

       WHEREAS, although he will remain active on the court and in various other capacities,

Judge Sullivan announced he will take senior status in April 2021.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the Judge Emmet G. Sullivan Recognition Resolution of 2021.

         Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes, honors, and celebrates the

Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan, United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, for his

exemplary service and contributions to the District of Columbia and its residents, on the occasion

of his taking senior status.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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