The Hon. John Sweeny Jr. Passes

The Hon. John Sweeny Jr.

The Hon. John Sweeny Jr. passed away peacefully at home Oct. 25 at the age of 76, taking his last breath with his beloved wife and three children by his side. He was known by all as a man of extraordinary intelligence, integrity, and quiet grace – a true gentleman in every aspect of life.

Sweeny graduated with his A.B. in government from the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, where he served on the Alumni Board. After beginning his career in private practice, he became administrative assistant district attorney for Putnam County, subsequently serving as confidential law secretary to two Supreme Court justices. He was elected as Putnam County Court judge, a multi-hat judgeship where he also heard cases in the Family, Surrogate, and Supreme Courts.

In 2000, Sweeny was elected as a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, ultimately serving as the senior resident justice for Putnam County.

In 2004, Sweeny was appointed as associate justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, by Gov. Geroge Pataki – the first Putnam County judge to sit in that court. He was made a constitutional justice of that court by Gov. David Paterson, won re-election to the Supreme Court in 2014, and was reappointed to the Appellate Division by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In January 2019, he was chosen to complete the bench for several cases in the Court of Appeals – the highest court in New York State – making him the highest-ranking judge in the history of Putnam County since Chancellor Kent in the 1700s.

The chief judge of New York appointed Sweeny to the Task Force on Reducing Delay in Civil Litigation and the Jury Trial Project. Additionally, he was a member of Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts, and a lecturer and moderator for numerous statewide judicial training seminars. He was also a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Sweeny contributed to community events including as a volunteer at the 4-H fair, Holiday on the Lakes Committee, and – prior to his judgeships – as president of the Putnam chapter of the American Cancer Society and member of the board of the Putnam Arts Council. Active in the Irish community, he was a founder of the Putnam County Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and was grand marshal of the Putnam/Northern Westchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Sweeny is survived by Alana, his loving wife of nearly 43 years; and sons James (Kelcey), Brian, and Patrick; as well as Michael Schmutzer, a chosen fourth son. He was the son of the late Justice John Sweeny Sr. and the late Isabel Sweeny. His brothers George (Margaret and niece Meave) and James predeceased him.

Visitation took place Oct. 29 at the Historic Courthouse in Carmel and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Oct. 30 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac.