William J. Sullivan (March 12, 1939 – June 6, 2022)[1] was an American judge trial referee of the Connecticut Superior Court.
[3] Sullivan was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and was a much-decorated veteran, serving in the Vietnam War and attaining the rank of captain in the United States Army.
[4] The court became embroiled in a lengthy ethics scandal in 2006 when it was revealed that retiring Chief Justice Sullivan postponed the publication of a controversial decision opposing Freedom of Information Act requests for documents that track the status and history of legal cases in the Connecticut legal system until hearings for his nominated successor Justice Peter T. Zarella were completed.
[5] Legislators speculated that Sullivan delayed the publication of the court's opinion because he feared it might damage Zarella's chances of becoming chief justice.
[6] Justice Sullivan remained active as a Judge Trial Referee and sat regularly with the Connecticut Appellate Court until his death.