Judge Cornelius O'Sullivan Appointed To Court Of Appeals

Judge Cornelius O’Sullivan was recently appointed to the Ohio Court of Appeals, Eighth Judicial District, by Governor Mike DeWine. He is currently serving the people of Cuyahoga County, hearing appeals from all lower courts. 

Judge O'Sullivan earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1990. While in law school he was an editor of the Law Review and a member of the flag football team that won the championship for the entire university!

Judge O'Sullivan graduated from John Carroll University in 1985 and was a member of the school's rugby and hockey teams. He played Varsity football for St. Edward High School and graduated in 1981. Judge O’Sullivan was chosen Legal Eagles Man of the Year in 2008. 

Judge O’Sullivan worked as a caddy at Westwood Country Club to help pay for grade school, was a Zamboni driver in high school and collected garbage for the City of Lakewood to pay for college.

Judge O’Sullivan has more than 30 years of legal experience with over 25 years in civil litigation. He routinely handled large loss matters and has tried over 40 cases as the first chair attorney. His practice areas included catastrophic claims, general commercial liability, wrongful death, construction defect, professional liability, long term care, trucking and UM/UIM litigation. In 2015 he was named a Premier 100 Trial Attorney by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys. In 2020, Judge O’Sullivan was trained and certified by The Cleveland Mediation Center and became a Professional Mediator.

In his practice Judge O'Sullivan represented Parma Police officers and the old Parmatown Mall. He has worked as a volunteer, walking door to door to help the campaign of his friend Tim Dobeck. 

Judge O’Sullivan worked to establish the MacBride Principles in Cuyahoga County. He also served on the board of the Irish Music Academy of Cleveland. 

Judge O’Sullivan currently serves as Director of the Flock Community Meals in Lakewood; an organization that prepares and serves 200 plus meals a month at two locations. He is a past-president of the Cleveland Association of Civil Trial Attorneys and was recognized by an international organization, DRI, for his exceptional service. In 2021, Judge O’Sullivan was named to the DRI Construction Law Steering Committee. The father of four Eagle Scouts, he is a Scout Leader in BSA Troop 287 in Lakewood, Ohio.

He and his wife Paula (Misencik) can often be seen with family at Fish Fry's in the Parma and Seven Hills areas