Ex-Chief war crimes prosecutor for Gen. Mattis, Colonel Sean Sullivan, tapped as Del Galdo Law Group partner
Ex-Chief war crimes prosecutor. (Berwyn, IL) – The former Chief Prosecutor for the U.S. Marine Corps legal team tasked with investigating and prosecuting allegations of war crimes in Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), has risen in the ranks in his new posting: he has become a full Partner in the Berwyn-based Del Galdo Law Group, LLC.
Lt. Colonel Sullivan, who supervised the investigation and prosecution of alleged war crimes arising out of operations in Iraq, reported directly to General James N. Mattis, U.S. Marine Corps, from 2007 through 2009, while serving on active duty at Camp Pendleton, California.
Sullivan earned his civilian promotion thanks to his outstanding efforts in more than 70 cases as defense counsel in federal civil rights litigation; as defense counsel in personal injury cases; and, as defense counsel in and state and federal civil and criminal cases during his four-years with the Del Galdo Law Group, according to the firm’s managing Partner and attorney Michael Del Galdo.
“Sean is everything that you would expect of a ranking Marine Corps officer and former judge advocate: brilliant, disciplined, and devoted to the spirit and letter of the law,” said Del Galdo. “When Sean enters a room with other attorneys present, you notice, through both their body language and verbal exchanges, the deference and respect to which they accord Sean’s statements and cogent arguments. It’s a sight to behold.”
Military Career
Sullivan, who earned his commission as a Marine Corps officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1984, initially served as an infantry officer with the 1st Marine Division from 1985 to 1987, prior to earning his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1990. He served on active duty in the Marine Corps for over twenty years before retiring honorably in September 2012.
Sullivan recently recalled his interest as a young man in serving in the military. “I remember getting the letter from the Naval Academy about my application, but I was too nervous to open it,” said Sullivan. “So, I decided to go to the Church of the Immaculate Conception for a quick prayer. My dad thought that I should just open the darn letter, but my mom thought it was a good idea to go to church. So I went, and I was accepted.”
Ex-Chief War Crimes Prosecutor
Sullivan’s 2007 appointment as Chief Prosecutor for the investigation and prosecution of alleged war crimes in Iraq resulted in his reporting directly to General Mattis, who was serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority at the time, responsible for overall supervision of the cases in his role as Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command.
“When the first allegations of possible violations of the Law of Armed Conflict by U.S. military personnel began to surface from Iraq, General Mattis sought to address the issues immediately and head–on by directing a thorough, fair and wholly transparent investigatory process” said Sullivan. “As chief prosecutor I would report to General Mattis on a weekly basis regarding the status of various ongoing investigations and prosecutions taking place at Camp Pendleton at that time. It was an honor to serve as a Marine officer in that legal role and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to serve such an accomplished Marine Corps officer as General James Mattis.”
Ex-Chief war crimes prosecutor
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