Matt Sullivan

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title: "Matt Sullivan" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1857-births", "1937-deaths", "chief-justices-of-california", "lawyers-from-san-francisco", "university-of-san-francisco-alumni", "university-of-san-francisco-faculty", "u.s.-state-supreme-court-judges-admitted-to-the-practice-of-law-by-reading-law"] description: "American judge (1857–1937)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Sullivan" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American judge (1857–1937) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Judge"]

Field	Value
name	Matt Ignatius Sullivan
image	Matt I. Sullivan Crop.jpg
caption	Sullivan 1915
order	16th
office	Chief Justice of California
termstart	September 14, 1914
termend	January 4, 1915
appointer	Hiram Johnson
predecessor	William H. Beatty
successor	Frank M. Angellotti
birth_date
birth_place	Grass Valley, California, U.S.
death_date
death_place	San Francisco, California, U.S.
alma_mater	St. Ignatius College (University of San Francisco) (AB)
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| name = Matt Ignatius Sullivan | image = Matt I. Sullivan Crop.jpg | caption = Sullivan 1915 | order = 16th | office = Chief Justice of California | termstart = September 14, 1914 | termend = January 4, 1915 | nominator = | appointer = Hiram Johnson | predecessor = William H. Beatty | successor = Frank M. Angellotti | birth_date = | birth_place = Grass Valley, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = San Francisco, California, U.S. |alma_mater= St. Ignatius College (University of San Francisco) (AB) Matt Ignatius Sullivan (November 3, 1857 – August 6, 1937) was the 16th Chief Justice of California. Appointed by Governor Hiram Johnson, Sullivan served from August 22, 1914, to January 4, 1915.

Biography

Sullivan was born in Grass Valley, California, one of eight children of Michael M. and Margaret Sullivan. In 1863, the family moved to the Mission District of San Francisco. He attended public and parochial schools, graduating with an A.B. degree from St. Ignatius College (later named University of San Francisco). He then studied law at University of California, Hastings College of the Law in the first class, though he left in November 1879 without graduating. He continued reading law with his older brother, Jeremiah F. Sullivan, who also served as a judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court and on the California Supreme Court (the only instance where siblings have served on that court). He acted as attorney to San Francisco Sheriff John J. McDade, who served from 1893 to 1895.

In 1879, Sullivan was admitted to the Bar, became known as a skilled trial attorney, and in 1889 joined his brother in the firm of Sullivan & Sullivan. By 1912, San Francisco Police Commissioner Theodore J. Roche joined the law firm, renamed Sullivan, Sullivan & Roche. Sullivan rose to prominence in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake when he and childhood friend, James Rolph Jr., set up emergency aid stations in the neighborhoods. Afterwards, Sullivan and Senator Hiram Johnson prosecuted the famous post-fire bribe and graft case against San Francisco supervisor, Abe Ruef. In July 1913, Sullivan was appointed a special prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office. When Johnson later became Governor, he appointed Sullivan to the Supreme Court in September 1914. On November 3, 1914, Sullivan was elected for the remainder of the short term expiring January 4, 1915.

After stepping down from the bench, Sullivan resumed private practice, remained active in politics, and led a series of civic improvements. When his friend James Rolph became first Mayor of San Francisco from 1912 to 1931, and then Governor of California from 1931 until 1934, Sullivan served as a close political advisor.

Law school dean

From September 1912, Sullivan served as the first dean of the law school at St. Ignatius (University of San Francisco) until his death in 1937.

Personal life

A bachelor, he lived with his brother, John, and sister, Mary McCarthy.

References

References

1. "Past and Present Justices". California State Courts.
2. Johnson, J. Edward (1966). "Matt I. Sullivan", ''[http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_2.pdf History of the Supreme Court Justices of California, 1900-1950] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-01-25 ''. p. 33-35.)
3. (1915). "California Blue Book, Or State Roster". California State Printing Office.
4. (Fall 1992). "Hastings Community". Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association.
5. (19 September 1894). "NOT A SCRAP". [[The San Francisco Call]].
6. (7 August 1937). "Matt Sullivan Dead". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
7. (15 July 1896). "Sullivan & Sullivan". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
8. (10 May 1889). "Judge Sullivan Expected to Resign". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
9. (1 October 1912). "Roche is a Junior Member of Law Firm". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
10. (17 November 1908). "New Attorneys for the People Coldly Snub Ach and Dozier When They Cross Paths in Court". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
11. (8 July 1913). "Prosecutors Investigate". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
12. (19 August 1914). "Sullivan Named to Succeed Judge Beatty". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
13. (14 September 1914). "Sullivan on Bench". California Digital Newspaper Collection.
14. (2006). "Governor James Rolph and the Great Depression in California". McFarland.
15. (22 September 1912). "Thirty Students Begin in New Law College". California Digital Newspaper Collection.

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