Hon. John W. Sweeny Jr.

Hon. John W. Sweeny, Jr
May 29, 1949-October 25, 2025
The Honorable John W. Sweeny Jr. passed away peacefully at home, 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.
Justice 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, Judge 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, Justice Sweeny was appointed as Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department by Governor Pataki, the first Putnam County Judge to sit in that Court. He was made a Constitutional Justice of that Court by Governor Paterson. He won re-election to the Supreme Court in 2014 and was reappointed to the Appellate Division by Governor Cuomo.
In January of 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 1700's.
Among his many awards, Judge Sweeny was recently honored as a 'Living Landmark of Putnam County", the U.S Army Reserve Employer Support Award from the Department of the Army for "extraordinary employer support of army reservists", the Society of Irish American Lawyers 2020 Distinguished Achievement Award, as well as a Distinguished Service Award by the Stephen P. Driscoll Lodge of New York State Fraternal Order of Police, FDNY members from Putnam County, the Knights of Columbus Lodge 6318, the VFW, and the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services.
John Sweeny's many professional leadership positions include being a former member of the Board of Directors and director of Continuing Legal Education for the Putnam County Bar Association. He was a former member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Family Court Judges of the State of New York as well as the Statewide Rules and Advisory Committee to propose Family Law Legislation.
The Chief Judge of New York appointed Justice 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 state-wide Judicial Training Seminars. He is also a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
He has served many positions for the New York State Bar Association, including as a member of the House of Delegates, and numerous committees, including: The Committee of Supreme Court, the Committee on Judicial Administration, the Committee on Justice and the Community, the Committee on County Court, the Special Committee on Grand Jury reform and the Betty Ellerin Commission on Women in the Courts.
He contributed to his 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.
Judge 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, and his family. He was the son of the late Justice John W. Sweeny Sr and the late Isabel Sweeny. His brothers George (Margaret and niece Meave) and James predeceased him.
Arrangements:
Visitation will be at the Historic Courthouse, 44 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the charity of your choice.