Judge Sullivan receives lifetime service award
The Deschutes County Family Preservation and Support Initiative recently honored Circuit Judge Michael Sullivan with the Raise Me Up Lifetime Service Award. The award recognizes Judge Sullivan’s efforts over the past 20-plus years working in support of the care and welfare of children in Deschutes County.
Patrick Carey, District 10 Manager for the Children, Adults and Families Division of the State Department of Human Services, presented Judge Sullivan with the award.
The award recognizes Judge Sullivan’s support of the Integrated Family Court Program, Family Drug Court, and his special ability to conduct settlement conferences in cases where parental rights are being terminated.
Mr. Carey expressed deep appreciation for the skill and care Judge Sullivan takes in bringing parents to an understanding and acceptance that their child will have a better chance in life while in the care of someone else. Mr. Carey also stated that Judge Sullivan brings parents to this acceptance in a way that allows them to maintain their sense of self-respect and dignity.
Circuit Court Presiding Judge Alta Brady echoed the praises of Judge Sullivan stating, “Our community and countless individual children have benefited enormously through Judge Sullivan’s efforts. Judge Sullivan’s true legacy is nurturing a culture in our Court and community that is
kid-focused, a culture that will endure after Judge Sullivan’s retirement at the end of this year.”
Judge Michael Sullivan has served as a Circuit Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District serving Deschutes County since 1988. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1970 from Washington University, St. Louis, MO and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon in 1973. Judge Sullivan is retired from the Oregon National Guard as a Colonel and is the former Chair of the Oregon Circuit Court Judges’ Association. He also served as the presiding judge for the 11th Judicial District from 2004 through 2011.
The Deschutes County Family Preservation and Support Initiative is a coalition of local agencies and organizations working to reduce the number of children entering foster care, and to support foster parents and those children who have entered foster care. The award presentation was made at the end of the Raise Me Up training held yesterday, Tuesday, September 18. For more information about Raise Me Up, please visit www.raisemeup.oregon.gov. ##
