--- title: "Brian R. Sullivan | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Brian R. Sullivan 3rd Circuit Court · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: 3rd Circuit Court - State: Michigan - Role: Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### videoconferencing Scope: statewide Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407. Evidence excerpt: courts may determine the manner and extent of the use of videoconferencing technology and may require participants to attend court proceedings by videoconferencing technology [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote access notice Scope: statewide If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it. Evidence excerpt: If a proceeding will be held using videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of the way(s) to access that proceeding. [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Michigan prohibits photography, audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming in a courtroom unless allowed by the presiding judge, subject to the separate media-coverage order. Evidence excerpt: In a courtroom, no one may use a portable electronic device to take photographs or for audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming unless that use is specifically allowed by the Judge presiding over that courtroom. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### device use Scope: statewide Michigan allows courtroom use of portable electronic devices for information retrieval, storage, internet access, and messaging, but requires silence and bars calls or other audible functions without court permission. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys, parties, and members of the public may use a portable electronic device in a courtroom to retrieve or to store information (including notetaking), to access the Internet, and to send and receive text messages or information. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/82) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/82) - [Michigan Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/82) - [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court", "name": "Brian R. Sullivan | KnowJudges", "description": "Brian R. Sullivan, 3rd Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-26", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court#judge", "name": "Brian R. 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Sullivan", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-r-sullivan-mi-circuit-judge-3rd-circuit-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Additionally, he has been an adjunct professor at Cooley Law School since 2009 and taught research writing and advocacy at Detroit College of Law from 1982 to 1990 - Before joining the bench, Sullivan worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County from 1983 to 1988 and practiced in private law firms, including Rutledge, Manion, and Thomas, DeGrood & Witenoff, P.C. ### Education - J.D. from Detroit College of Law in 1983 and later earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2008 - Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Monteith College of Wayne State University in 1977, followed by post-graduate studies at Harvard University. ### Additional information - He also held the role of director of the Holy Trinity Free Legal Clinic for 20 years, providing legal services to indigent clients. - Judge Sullivan has been involved in significant legal discussions, including weighing in on the rights of parolees in class-action lawsuits, emphasizing individualized parole review based on rehabilitation and the nature of the offense. - Judge Sullivan has been a member of the Criminal Jury Instruction Committee for about 10 years and the Model Civil Jury Instruction Committee for nine years, both appointments made by the Michigan Supreme Court. - He is a member of the Michigan Board of Law Examiners, a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and has participated in the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts. - He has also held the role of president of the Incorporated Society of Irish-American Lawyers and was a member of the state bar's Standing Committee on Grievance for 11 years ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2f4be1384a246c5cc0b6bc97) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Michigan Court Rules — Circuit Court appellate proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-a75753f265346674eb8ae5f8) — Michigan Circuit Court appellate proceedings only; retained September 2, 2026 compilation. Source exceptions and later amendments apply. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/michigan-court-rules.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.