[1] He came to Long Beach after he graduated from Monmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Harvard Law School.
He was later elected as City Prosecutor, where he worked until he resigned to enter the military service after war broke out.
He then returned to Long Beach and resumed his private practice until 1950, when he was elected to the City Council.
In 1953, Sutter ran for the municipal court bench when Judge Charles D. Wallace announced he would not run for re-election.
Sutter also served as President of the Long Beach Area Council of the Boy Scouts in 1956 and 1957.