By Robert Florida
Law enforcement courses through the veins of Sean Bradley. His father, James Bradley, was a narcotics detective for the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and both his grandfathers were police officers – one in South Orange and the other in Newark. Two of his uncles were also police officers.
And on this day – September 6, in Newark’s Superior Court, his father and uncles looked on as Sean was sworn into his new position: assistant prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
“We’re proud of Sean for continuing the family tradition of law enforcement,” said James Bradley. “He’s taken it to the next level by becoming an assistant prosecutor, which means he won’t be working the streets like cops and detectives, so his mother can relax.”
Sean was one of five assistant prosecutors sworn in Tuesday during a courtroom ceremony presided over by Judge Mark Ali and Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II. The other four new assistant prosecutors are Leighton Cohen, Marco Collemi, Melanie Laprade and Christian Marin. In terms of placement, Bradley will join the office’s Expungement Unit; Cohen and Laprade will join the Domestic Violence Unit; and Collemi and Marin will join the Central Judicial Processing and Remand Unit.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (ECPO) is the biggest and busiest prosecutor’s office in the state, and by all accounts given Tuesday, it’s also the best training ground for young assistant prosecutors.
“ECPO is the best prosecutor’s office in the state, especially for learning and getting experience,” said Superior Court Judge John Gizzo,” who attended the ceremony to swear in his former law clerk: Marco Collemi. Gizzo worked as an assistant prosecutor in Essex for six years before becoming a judge and said his experience in the office was invaluable. “Marco will get so much great experience in ECPO,” Gizzo said, “and I know he’ll be an excellent addition to the staff.
The Honorable Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata, who attended the ceremony to swear in Sean Bradley, his former law clerk, also worked as an assistant prosecutor in Essex. Bradley’s parents held the Bible as Amirata read the oath that Sean repeated, after which he became newest member of his family to work in law enforcement.
“I’m excited to begin my career as an assistant prosecutor with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Sean Bradley, “and pursue its mission to seek justice, to serve justice, and to do justice. It’s a dream come true. My father and both of my grandfathers served many decades in law enforcement in Essex County, so it’s an honor to follow in their footsteps.”
Prosecutor Stephens welcomed each of the newly minded prosecutors to the office, noting that ECPO is a kind of family, one with a distinguished tradition of producing eminent jurists such as Judge Gizzo and Judge Amirata.
“There’s no better place to work, and no place you’d rather be than the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Stephens. “Welcome to our family.”
Here are brief profiles of the five new assistant prosecutors:
Melanie Laprade
“I am looking forward to returning to Newark to continue my career in public service,” said Laprade. “Since my first year in law school, I knew I wanted to be at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, so I am both excited and honored to begin that journey and serve this community.”
EDUCATION
Seton Hall University School of Law
Juris Doctor, May 2021
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, December 2017
EXPERIENCE
The Honorable Regina Caulfield
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part
Law Clerk to Presiding Judge, August 2021 – present
Seton Hall Law Center for Policy and Research, Newark, N.J.
Fellow, August 2019 – May 2021
Seton Hall Law Center for Social Justice, Equal Justice Clinic, Newark, N.J.
Student Attorney, August 2020 – December 2020
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Hackensack, NJ
Legal Intern, June 2020 – August 2020
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark, N.J.
Legal Intern, September 2019 – December 2019
The Honorable Mirtha Ospina, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division
Legal Intern, May 2019 – August 2019
Christian Marin
“I look forward to starting at the ECPO, where I will gain tons of experience working for the largest prosecutor’s office in New Jersey,” said Marin. “I understand the role of prosecutor is to seek justice, not just win cases. Therefore, I hope to try to fashion solutions that will benefit potential victims or the state but also perhaps serve to help defendants. My experience in Recovery Court working with the Honorable Robert Hanna taught me the value of a rehabilitative program like Recovery Court Probation, which can break the cycle of recidivism.”
Education
Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ
Juris Doctor, May 2021
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Bachelor of Arts, May 2016
Double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice
Legal Experience
New Jersey State Judiciary, Morristown and Newton, N.J.
Judicial Clerk for the Hon. Robert M. Hanna, J.S.C., August 2021 – Present
Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ
Research Assistant for Professor George Thomas III,June 2020 – August 2020
- Conducted research on the Fourth Amendment, specifically different interpretations of the meaning behind “search” and how it impacts the law
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark, NJ
Legal Intern, January 2020 – March 2020
Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Belvidere, NJ
Legal Intern, May 2019 – August 2019
Leighton Cohen
“I am looking forward to joining the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, “Cohen said. “Becoming an Assistant Prosecutor has been my goal since college, and I am eager to contribute my skills to the team.”
EDUCATION
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
Juris Doctor, May 2021
Fellow: The Center for Policy and Research (2019-2020) (co-authored two papers published by the Center for Policy and Research)
Harvard Business School
CORe: Credential of Readiness, March 2018
Completed online coursework in Financial Accounting, Economics for Managers, and Business Analytics
City College of New York, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science, February 2018
Study Abroad: Frankfurt International Program, Germany, Summer 2017
EXPERIENCE
The Honorable Kenneth Palmer
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Family Part, Toms River, NJ
Judicial Clerk, August 2021 to August 2022
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, New York, NY
Externship, August 2020 to November 2020
● Completed legal research projects related to illegal gambling, loan sharking, organized crime, racial licensing agency and unit of law enforcement.
The Honorable Verna G. Leath
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part, Newark, NJ
Judicial Intern, June 2020 to August 2020
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Homicide Unit, Jersey City, NJ
Intern, June 2019 to August 2019
Office of State Senator Brian Benjamin, New York, NY
Intern, July 2018 to August 2018
Sar-el Program with Israeli Military, Israel
Volunteer, June 2013 to September 2013
Sean Bradley
“I am excited to begin my career with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and pursue its mission to seek justice, to serve justice, and to do justice,” said Bradley. “It is a dream come true. My father and both grandfathers served many decades in law enforcement in Essex County, so it is an honor to follow in their footsteps.”
EDUCATION
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
Juris Doctor, May 2021, magna cum laude
Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Conn.
Bachelor of Science, in Criminal Justice, May 2016
EXPERIENCE
Chambers of Honorable Ralph E. Amirata
Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County Criminal Division
Law Clerk, August 2021 – Present
The Law Offices of John J. McMahon, Esq. West Orange, N.J.
Legal Intern, January 2021 – Present
Chambers of Honorable John K. Sherwood
United States Bankruptcy Judge, District of New Jersey, Newark
Judicial Intern, Summer 2020
Michigan Department of Attorney General – Charitable Trust Section
Legal Intern (Part Time), September 2019 – April 2020
United States Attorney’s Office New Haven, Conn.
Community Outreach Intern, January 2015 – May 2015
Marco Collemi
“Prior to joining the Essex County Prosecutor’s office, I was a judicial law clerk in Essex County,” said Collemi. “I knew I wanted to join a prosecutor’s office following my clerkship, but I wasn’t sure where. During my clerkship, I had the opportunity to interact with numerous people from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Based on these interactions, I wanted to remain in Essex County and join the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. The mission and role of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is exactly what I am looking for.”
EDUCATION
Roger Williams University School of Law,2018-2021
John Jay College, Bachelor’s in Criminology, 2014-2018
EXPERIENCE
Judicial Clerk to the Honorable John Gizzo, J.S.C., New Jersey Courts, August 2020 – December 2020
Legal Extern,CVS Health, August 2020 – December 2020
Law Clerk, Fusco & Macaluso Attorneys at Law, May 2019 – August 2019
Legal intern, Law Office of Bio & Laracca, June 2016 – Aug 2016
Melanie Laprade
“I am looking forward to returning to Newark to continue my career in public service,” said Laprade. “Since my first year in law school, I knew I wanted to be at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, so I am both excited and honored to begin that journey and serve this community.”
EDUCATION
Seton Hall University School of Law
Juris Doctor, May 2021
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, December 2017
EXPERIENCE
The Honorable Regina Caulfield
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part
Law Clerk to Presiding Judge, August 2021 – present
Seton Hall Law Center for Policy and Research, Newark, N.J.
Fellow, August 2019 – May 2021
Seton Hall Law Center for Social Justice, Equal Justice Clinic, Newark, N.J.
Student Attorney, August 2020 – December 2020
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Hackensack, NJ
Legal Intern, June 2020 – August 2020
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark, N.J.
Legal Intern, September 2019 – December 2019
The Honorable Mirtha Ospina, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division
Legal Intern, May 2019 – August 2019
Christian Marin
“I look forward to starting at the ECPO, where I will gain tons of experience working for the largest prosecutor’s office in New Jersey,” said Marin. “I understand the role of prosecutor is to seek justice, not just win cases. Therefore, I hope to try to fashion solutions that will benefit potential victims or the state but also perhaps serve to help defendants. My experience in Recovery Court working with the Honorable Robert Hanna taught me the value of a rehabilitative program like Recovery Court Probation, which can break the cycle of recidivism.”
Education
Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ
Juris Doctor, May 2021
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Bachelor of Arts, May 2016
Double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice
Legal Experience
New Jersey State Judiciary, Morristown and Newton, N.J.
Judicial Clerk for the Hon. Robert M. Hanna, J.S.C., August 2021 – Present
Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ
Research Assistant for Professor George Thomas III,June 2020 – August 2020
- Conducted research on the Fourth Amendment, specifically different interpretations of the meaning behind “search” and how it impacts the law
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark, NJ
Legal Intern, January 2020 – March 2020
Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Belvidere, NJ
Legal Intern, May 2019 – August 2019
Leighton Cohen
“I am looking forward to joining the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, “Cohen said. “Becoming an Assistant Prosecutor has been my goal since college, and I am eager to contribute my skills to the team.”
EDUCATION
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
Juris Doctor, May 2021
Fellow: The Center for Policy and Research (2019-2020) (co-authored two papers published by the Center for Policy and Research)
Harvard Business School
CORe: Credential of Readiness, March 2018
Completed online coursework in Financial Accounting, Economics for Managers, and Business Analytics
City College of New York, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science, February 2018
Study Abroad: Frankfurt International Program, Germany, Summer 2017
EXPERIENCE
The Honorable Kenneth Palmer
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Family Part, Toms River, NJ
Judicial Clerk, August 2021 to August 2022
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, New York, NY
Externship, August 2020 to November 2020
● Completed legal research projects related to illegal gambling, loan sharking, organized crime, racial licensing agency and unit of law enforcement.
The Honorable Verna G. Leath
Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part, Newark, NJ
Judicial Intern, June 2020 to August 2020
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Homicide Unit, Jersey City, NJ
Intern, June 2019 to August 2019
Office of State Senator Brian Benjamin, New York, NY
Intern, July 2018 to August 2018
Sar-el Program with Israeli Military, Israel
Volunteer, June 2013 to September 2013
Sean Bradley
“I am excited to begin my career with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and pursue its mission to seek justice, to serve justice, and to do justice,” said Bradley. “It is a dream come true. My father and both grandfathers served many decades in law enforcement in Essex County, so it is an honor to follow in their footsteps.”
EDUCATION
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
Juris Doctor, May 2021, magna cum laude
Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Conn.
Bachelor of Science, in Criminal Justice, May 2016
EXPERIENCE
Chambers of Honorable Ralph E. Amirata
Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County Criminal Division
Law Clerk, August 2021 – Present
The Law Offices of John J. McMahon, Esq. West Orange, N.J.
Legal Intern, January 2021 – Present
Chambers of Honorable John K. Sherwood
United States Bankruptcy Judge, District of New Jersey, Newark
Judicial Intern, Summer 2020
Michigan Department of Attorney General – Charitable Trust Section
Legal Intern (Part Time), September 2019 – April 2020
United States Attorney’s Office New Haven, Conn.
Community Outreach Intern, January 2015 – May 2015
Marco Collemi
“Prior to joining the Essex County Prosecutor’s office, I was a judicial law clerk in Essex County,” said Collemi. “I knew I wanted to join a prosecutor’s office following my clerkship, but I wasn’t sure where. During my clerkship, I had the opportunity to interact with numerous people from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Based on these interactions, I wanted to remain in Essex County and join the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. The mission and role of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is exactly what I am looking for.”
EDUCATION
Roger Williams University School of Law,2018-2021
John Jay College, Bachelor’s in Criminology, 2014-2018
EXPERIENCE
Judicial Clerk to the Honorable John Gizzo, J.S.C., New Jersey Courts, August 2020 – December 2020
Legal Extern,CVS Health, August 2020 – December 2020
Law Clerk, Fusco & Macaluso Attorneys at Law, May 2019 – August 2019
Legal intern, Law Office of Bio & Laracca, June 2016 – Aug 2016
