The Hon. George A. Sullivan, Jr., of Norwood donned his black robes as presiding justice of the District Court of Southern Norfolk at ceremonies Saturday morning at the courthouse in Stoughton.
Governor Endicott Peabody, who named the former State Senator to the bench last July, administered the oath of office to the new justice before an overflow crowd of friends and relatives.
Governor Peabody, whose State helicopter dropped out of murky sky and landed on the courthouse lawn minutes before the 11 o’clock ceremony was slated to begin, was lavish in his praise of the young lawmaker whom he elevated to the bench after two terms in the upper branch of the State Legislature.
Governor Peabody pointed out that sometimes a Governor faces a difficult choice in getting the best man for the job; but in the case of George Sullivan there never was a question that he was eminently qualified for the position.
The Governor administered the oath of office to the new judge, who then donned the black robes that, he will wear In his new of final capacity.
The Rev Arthur William Morgan of Canton, chaplain of the juvenile session of the Norfolk District Courts, had delivered the invocation at the outset of the ceremonies, at which Albert A. Ward, veteran clerk of the district court, acted as master of ceremonies.
Judge Sullivan paid glowing tribute to Governor Peabody, likening his supreme physical and mental effort as Chief Executive of the Commonwealth to that of a football player who gives his all, knowing that even in defeat he did his best.
Judge Sullivan expressed humble gratitude for the faith which Governor Peabody had placed in him and pledged to cany out his responsibilities to the best of his abilities.
Judge Gregory W. Grover, associate justice who has been sitting as acting justice since the retirement of Judge Frederick Iddings of Sharon, read the commission to the new justice.
The Hon. Maurice A. Donahue, president of the State Senate, who shared a place on the bench during the formal ceremonies, expressed regret that the Senate should lose a man of Judge Sullivan’s calibre, but expressed satisfaction that the new justice is presented now with an even greater opportunity for service io bis fellowmen.
Seated within the bar enclosure during the ceremonies were members of the judge’s family, including his wife and nine children, and his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. George A Sullivan of East Walpole, all of whom were introduced Also introduced by Judge Sullivan were Senators Kevin Harrington and James Burke, Representative Thomas White of Walpole, and Governor Councillor Margaret Heckler
Neighbors of the Sullivans joined with other friends and relatives who filled the bright, new courtroom and overflowed into the foyer. A delegation of State Troopers from the Fox-boro Barracks attended the ceremonies, as did Joseph Breen of Norwood, probation officer of the Dedham District Court. The Norwood Democratic Town Committee, formerly headed by Judge Sullivan, was represented by newly-elected chairman George Hayes. Chief James M. Murphy represented the Norwood Police Department.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)