Family Background
It is no mere accident that Dave has made public and community service priorities in his life. Growing up in Massachusetts, Dave was the fifth of six children. His parents, the late Anne and James Sullivan, instilled in Dave a love of family, commitment to community, strong faith, and respect for others. Dave's father retired from New England Telephone as an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. His mother retired as a Registered Dietician at a nursing home. Her care and empathy for elderly residents, as well as her family, is something Dave will always remember. Dave's family, educational, and professional experiences have been important in developing his character, work ethic, and commitment to public service.
Education
In high school, Dave was involved in community service, played basketball, and ran cross-country. In 1977, Dave graduated as a National Honor Society student from Marian High School in Framingham, MA. In 1981, Dave graduated with honors from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. In 1986, he graduated with a law degree from the Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, MA. Throughout high school, college, and law school Dave worked to help pay for his education and living expenses
Professional Life
Dave has been an attorney for over 22 years, serving sixteen years as a trial attorney and advocate. During his sixteen years in private practice, Dave handled thousands of criminal and civil cases. In 1987, he started his law career as a civilian trial attorney representing U.S. Army and Air Force service members in General and Special Courts-Martial in West Germany.
From 1989 to 2002, Dave represented clients in the District, Housing, Probate, and Superior Courts of Western Massachusetts. He was also an advocate for employees before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and Workers' Compensation Board. He established a reputation for hard work, conscientious preparation, zealous advocacy, and outstanding trial skills. As District Attorney, Dave would use his leadership abilities, advocacy skills, and good judgment to enhance the delivery of justice in our courtrooms and communities.
Leader for Justice
Dave has been a leader for justice while serving as the Hampshire Register of Probate, Easthampton City Attorney, President of the Hampshire County Bar Association, and Chairperson, Hampshire Elder Law Program.
In 2002, Dave was elected Register of Probate for Hampshire Probate & Family Court. For over 6 years, Dave has been an innovative, energetic, and effective leader who has fostered court and community collaborations on many successful justice initiatives. Some of those initiatives include; establishing a probate court website, founding a national award-winning parent education program, establishing a community outreach program, providing on-site mediation services for families, expanding pro bono attorney assistance, and increasing assistance to unrepresented litigants. In 2008, he was one of two Massachusetts lawyers chosen to receive the Massachusetts Bar Foundation's President Award for extraordinary volunteerism, leadership, and commitment to increasing access to justice in Massachusetts.
The Probate Court's community outreach program has provided education about services and programs to community groups, senior centers, and civic organizations. In 2007, Dave co-founded the Hampshire Elder Law Program. This program provides low-income elders in Hampshire County with free civil legal representation. His vision and commitment have helped to ensure that the justice system is more accessible and responsive to citizen's needs.
Lifetime of Civic Engagement
Dave has had lifetime of civic engagement in his community. His service has included serving as Chair, Easthampton Board of Assessors; President of Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of Easthampton; President of Western Massachusetts Shelter for Homeless Veterans and other organizations committed to service and social justice. He is currently serving on the Advisory Board Member to the Northwestern District Attorney's Child Advocacy Center; Committee Member, Northampton Domestic Violence-Free Zone Committee; Committee Member, Easthampton Inter-Faith Cot Shelter. He has also been a youth soccer and basketball coach, and continues to assist annually with the statewide MBA high school mock trial competition.
Most recently, Dave served on the Western Massachusetts Obama Steering Committee and as Hampshire County Obama Co-Coordinator.
Dave's personal commitment to community service began at an early age. A high school teacher, Kay Whalen, inspired his dedication to community service. She regularly brought him and fellow students to the Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter in Boston, to help make and serve meals. The spirit to serve the needs of the community has followed Dave throughout his career, gaining him recognition amongst his peers for outstanding dedication to volunteerism. In 2004, the Massachusetts Bar Association awarded him its Community Service Award.
Dave's Views on the Office of District Attorney
Dave views the Office of District Attorney as an opportunity to fuse his trial lawyer skills, education in management at the Isenberg School, commitment to social justice, and spirit of public service, into a labor of love for the safety and security of the citizens of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. He believes that as District Attorney he can make the Northwestern District Attorney's Office the best prosecutors office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.