Eugene R. Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Eugene R. Sullivan is a former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
. He was nominated to the Court by President Ronald Reagan
, confirmed by the U.S. Senate and installed in 1986. President George H.W. Bush named him the Chief Judge in 1990. He was elevated by law to a senior status
Federal Judge in 2002.
When not recalled under law to active service on the Bench as a judge, he currently is serving as a Senior Partner with the Freeh Group International ("FGI") (www.freehgroup.com). FGI is an international consulting group of former Federal judges and former senior officials of the FBI & intelligence communities. Judge Sullivan is also a senior partner of the Washington D.C. law firm, Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan LLP.
Sullivan was born in St. Louis, Missouri
, and graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1959. Then, in 1964, he graduated from the United States Military Academy
. He was a United States Army officer for five years, qualifying as an Airborne Ranger, a Ranger Instructor, and a jumpmaster. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
, the Air Medal
, and other decorations in Vietnam. In 2006, he was made a Distinguished member of the Ranger Training Brigade. Judge Sullivan has been inducted into the U.S.Army Ranger Hall of Fame.
After his Army service, he went on to attend the Georgetown University Law Center
, and was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal
in his senior year.
After graduating from law school, he was a clerk
for Marion Charles Matthes
, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
, and was also in private practice with Patton Boggs LLP (of Washington, D.C.
)
During the Watergate investigation in 1974, Sullivan was a member of President Richard Nixon
's legal defense team. He was then a trial attorney for the Department of Justice
from 1974 to 1982. From 1982 until his Senate confirmation as a Federal Judge in 1986, he held several positions, including the General Counsel of the United States Air Force
, the General Counsel of the National Reconnaissance Office
, and (from 1984 to 1986) was the Governor of Wake Island
, a U.S. overseas possession.
After attaining senior status as a judge, Sullivan founded the Gavel Consulting Group, which consists of former federal judges (most of whom have held additional high government office.) A Washington Post article pointed out that Sullivan's interest in a private company such as this could conflict with federal laws that prohibit judges from profiting from their office. Sullivan responded that he was no longer in active status as a judge and that this activity was permitted under the Federal statute governing his Court. The article also noted that Sullivan is the firm's sole owner, whereas the other members are "advisers" who have no ownership stake.
Sullivan has been a board member of Duke University
's Center on Law, Ethics and National Security. He is the author of The Majority Rules (2004), a political thriller that includes the U.S. federal court in its plot. In 2008, his legal thriller, "The Report to the Judiciary" was published.
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces or CAAF is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice...
. He was nominated to the Court by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, confirmed by the U.S. Senate and installed in 1986. President George H.W. Bush named him the Chief Judge in 1990. He was elevated by law to a senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
Federal Judge in 2002.
When not recalled under law to active service on the Bench as a judge, he currently is serving as a Senior Partner with the Freeh Group International ("FGI") (www.freehgroup.com). FGI is an international consulting group of former Federal judges and former senior officials of the FBI & intelligence communities. Judge Sullivan is also a senior partner of the Washington D.C. law firm, Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan LLP.
Sullivan was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1959. Then, in 1964, he graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. He was a United States Army officer for five years, qualifying as an Airborne Ranger, a Ranger Instructor, and a jumpmaster. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
, and other decorations in Vietnam. In 2006, he was made a Distinguished member of the Ranger Training Brigade. Judge Sullivan has been inducted into the U.S.Army Ranger Hall of Fame.
After his Army service, he went on to attend the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, and was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal
Georgetown Law Journal
The Georgetown Law Journal is a student-edited scholarly journal published at Georgetown University Law Center.-Overview:The Journal publishes six issues each year. It also publishes the Annual Review of Criminal Procedure, a comprehensive practitioner's guide to criminal procedure.The first volume...
in his senior year.
After graduating from law school, he was a clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Marion Charles Matthes
Marion Charles Matthes
Marion Charles Matthes was a United States federal judge.Born in De Soto, Missouri, Matthes attended Benton College of Law, and read law in 1928 to enter the Bar. He was in private practice in DeSoto and Hillsboro, Missouri from 1928 to 1955...
, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
, and was also in private practice with Patton Boggs LLP (of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
)
During the Watergate investigation in 1974, Sullivan was a member of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's legal defense team. He was then a trial attorney for the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
from 1974 to 1982. From 1982 until his Senate confirmation as a Federal Judge in 1986, he held several positions, including the General Counsel of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, the General Counsel of the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
, and (from 1984 to 1986) was the Governor of Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
, a U.S. overseas possession.
After attaining senior status as a judge, Sullivan founded the Gavel Consulting Group, which consists of former federal judges (most of whom have held additional high government office.) A Washington Post article pointed out that Sullivan's interest in a private company such as this could conflict with federal laws that prohibit judges from profiting from their office. Sullivan responded that he was no longer in active status as a judge and that this activity was permitted under the Federal statute governing his Court. The article also noted that Sullivan is the firm's sole owner, whereas the other members are "advisers" who have no ownership stake.
Sullivan has been a board member of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's Center on Law, Ethics and National Security. He is the author of The Majority Rules (2004), a political thriller that includes the U.S. federal court in its plot. In 2008, his legal thriller, "The Report to the Judiciary" was published.