In a follow-up to this month’s Career Day activities, seven Prep alumni who currently serve as judges in Hudson County visited Grand & Warren for an assembly last week. The judges met with freshmen and seniors in the gym for a panel discussion. Topics included their paths from Prep to the legal profession and ultimately to the bench, as well as significant influences and lessons from their Prep years. Some common themes emerged from the judges’ stories: an interest in public service and commitment to good citizenship that took shape in the Prep classroom; a desire to act as a man for others seeking justice and the common good; and the Prep brotherhood that has shaped their relationships with mentors and colleagues throughout their careers.
Special thanks to our panel of judges—and in particular to Judge Jablonski along with Eli Jablonski, ’23 for their assistance in planning the assembly. Eli introduced the judges, and a brief biography of each judge follows, in order (left to right) pictured above:
The Hon. Jeffrey R. Jablonski, A.J.S.C., ’88, P’23 attended the College of the Holy Cross and graduated with his A.B. in 1992. While in law School at Western Michigan University, he served as the Editor in Chief of that school’s law review and graduated with honors. After a clerkship with the Hon. John McLaughlin, Judge Jablonski practiced in his family’s law firm until he was appointed to the bench in 2013. Judge Jablonski served in the Civil Division until he was appointed as the Chancellor in the General Equity Division until he was elevated by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner to his current position as the Assignment Judge for the Hudson Vicinage in 2021.
The Hon. Daniel D’Alessandro, J.S.C., ’67 attended Saint Peter’s College and graduated in 1971 with a degree in economics. After receiving his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law School, Judge D’Alessandro obtained a Master of Law degree from New York University. Judge D’Alessandro founded his own law firm and practiced law at it for 35 years before he was appointed to the Bench in 2010. Judge D’Alessandro served in the Family Part of the Chancery Division and the Law Division until his recent retirement. Judge D’Alessandro currently mediates and arbitrates family, civil, and general equity cases in private practice and volunteers in Matrimonial Early Settlement Program.
The Hon. Paul M. DePascale, J.S.C., ’67 majored in history at Saint Peter’s College. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1971 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Judge DePascale received his law degree from Seton Hall Law School. After clerking for the Hon. Joseph Hanrahan, he went to work for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office and ultimately became the Hudson County Prosecutor. He was appointed to the bench in 1991 and currently sits in the Criminal Division.
The Hon. Cataldo Fazio, J.M.C., ’77 completed his undergraduate studies at Rider University and received his law degree from the New York Law School. Later, he received a certificate in Negotiation and Leadership from Harvard Law School. Judge Fazio has served the City of Hoboken as its Municipal Court Judge for the last 28 years, and currently serves as the Chief Judge there. As a Municipal Court Judge, Judge Fazio is permitted to practice law by the New Jersey Supreme Court and operates his own law firm where he focuses on civil litigation.
The Hon. Kevin G. Callahan, J.S.C., ’65 received his B.A. from Saint Peter’s College in 1969. After his clerkship with Judge August Heckman,, he served as a part-time Municipal Court judge while also in private practice. In 1984, Judge Callahan was appointed to the Superior Court bench and served in the Criminal Division for 27 years until his retirement in 2011. Judge Callahan teaches full time at St. Peter’s University in the Criminal Justice Department.
The Hon. Jose Vilarino, J.S.C., ’96, was a member of the Prep Faculty after he graduated from the University of Scranton. After law school he was in private practice until he was appointed to the Superior Court bench in 2022. Judge Vilarino is currently assigned to the Family Division where he presides over non dissolution and domestic violence matters
The Hon. Vincent Militello, J.S.C., ’83 received his Bachelor of Arts from Providence College in 1987, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After service in Okinawa and in the Philippines, Judge Militello left the Marian as a Captain to enroll in Law School at Seton Hall University. After graduation, Judge Militello served as an Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor and as an Assistant New Jersey Attorney General. He was appointed to the bench in 2017 and has served in the Civil and Criminal Divisions.