--- title: "Patricia A. Sullivan | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-a-sullivan-rhode-island-us-magistrate" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Patricia A. Sullivan U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island · U.S. Magistrate Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island - State: Rhode Island - Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Sullivan has held the role of a U.S. Magistrate Judge since October 1, 2012, appointed by the district’s judges to a renewable eight‐year term - U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, appointed in 2012 and set to retire on October 2, 2026, after more than 14 years of service - Described as the first female U.S. magistrate judge for the District of Rhode Island, appointed October 1, 2012, replacing David L. Martin, and reappointed in 2020 for eight years - Reported service: HOPE Court presiding judicial officer from 2014 - Before joining the federal bench, Sullivan was an attorney at Edwards & Angell, LLP (now Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP) from 1978 to 2012, specializing in antitrust litigation. ### Education - Georgetown University Law Center — bio-322741070ee2; user_supplied_research — J.D. (1978) - Georgetown University Law Center J.D. magna cum laude (1978), articles editor of Georgetown Law Review. - Wellesley College — bio-322741070ee2; user_supplied_research — B.A. (1973) - Wellesley College B.A. with honors (1973) ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, D. Rhode Island, 2012-present - Federal magistrate judge since 2012. - May 2026 announcement anticipates retirement in October 2026; no exact effective date verified. - Planned retirement effective October 2, 2026, announced July 2025. - First Circuit Workplace Conduct Committee from 2019 and Access to Justice Committee from 2023 - Awards: Ronald McDonald House of Providence exceptional community leadership (2013) and Federal Bar Association Elaine R. Boots Fisher Public Service Award (2014). - She also held the role of adjunct faculty at Roger Williams University School of Law (2011–2012) District of Rhode Island - Rhode Island Bar Federal Bench/Bar Committee co-chair (2009–2012) - Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (2001–2012). - Practitioner, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, 1979–2012 - Previously practiced at Edwards & Angell from 1978 to 2012. - Practiced antitrust litigation at Edwards & Angell, later Edwards Wildman Palmer, in Providence from 1978–2012 and was adjunct faculty at Roger Williams law school in 2011–2012. - Member of the First Circuit Judicial Council committees on Workplace Conduct and Access to Justice ## 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 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=7) - [Official roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=7) - [U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=7) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9529/patricia-a-sullivan/) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9529/patricia-a-sullivan/) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Patricia A. Sullivan](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) - [Official biography](https://www.rid.uscourts.gov/judges/patricia-sullivan) - [Selection announcement, May 26, 2026; expected start October 2026](https://www.rid.uscourts.gov/news/rebecca-l-aitchison-selected-serve-us-magistrate-judge) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Patricia_Sullivan_%28Rhode_Island%29) - [www.rid.uscourts.gov](https://www.rid.uscourts.gov/sites/rid/files/MJ%20Sullivan%20Retirement%20Notice%20with%20PAS%20-%20FINAL.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9529/patricia-a-sullivan/) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Patricia A. Sullivan](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-a-sullivan-rhode-island-us-magistrate", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-a-sullivan-rhode-island-us-magistrate", "name": "Patricia A. Sullivan | KnowJudges", "description": "Patricia A. Sullivan, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-09", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-a-sullivan-rhode-island-us-magistrate#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-a-sullivan-rhode-island-us-magistrate#judge", "name": "Patricia A. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.