Josiah Sutherland, Jr. was the son of Josiah and Abigail (Dunkin) Sutherland. He graduated from Union College in 1824 and afterwards studied law in the office of Samuel G. Huntingdon of Waterford, NY and then in the office of Bushnell & Stebbins of Hudson, NY. Josiah was admitted to the bar in 1829 but moved to South Carolina for a year to improve his heath. Upon returning north, he entered into a partnership with Robert H. Morris in Livingston, NY. Morris was a former Mayor and Recorder of New York City. In 1831, Sutherland was appointed District Attorney of Columbia County, an office he held for over a decade. In 1838, He moved to Hudson, NY and continued to practice law. Sutherland was elected to U.S. Congress in 1851 for one term. Afterwards he moved to New York City in 1857 and continued to practice law. He became an Associate Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in 1857 and held the position until 1871. Sutherland immediately became presiding Judge of the Court of General Session from 1872 to 1878. At this point he retired from judicial life and resumed his legal practice. He died in New York City on May 25, 1887. Josiah Sutherland attended the Litchfield Law School in1825.

Note written by Litchfield Ledger