An Interview With The Honorable John Michael

The Honorable John Michael Vazquez received his commission to serve as a United States district judge for the District of New Jersey on Jan. 29, 2016. Judge Vazquez ascended to the federal bench after spending his entire law career in New Jersey, serving as an assistant United States attorney in the district, as the first assistant in the Office of the Attorney General, and as a partner in private practice. As Judge Vazquez approaches the close of his first year on the bench, he graciously sat down to share his personal experience and sound advice for the attorneys appearing in his courtroom.

Q: Where did you grow up?

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but moved to New Jersey after a few months. The majority of my childhood was spent in Wharton, a town in Morris County. I am the oldest of three brothers.

Q: What inspired you to become a lawyer?

I cannot point to one moment that inspired me to practice law. Instead, my own personal interests, along with several events, influenced my decision to become an attorney. For example, while attending Rutgers College I had several professors who had a significant impact on my future career decision. In short, they inspired critical thinking and analysis on difficult topics.

Q: Did you enjoy law school?

I was fortunate to attend Seton Hall University School of Law and have many fond memories of my time there. The administration, professors, and my classmates were wonderful. I gained tremendous legal knowledge and was well prepared for the bar exam. Seton Hall is a critical player in the New Jersey legal community.

That being said, I also found law school to be a significant challenge. In addition to the course work and the anxiety that is innate to law school, I was the first in my family to attempt a career in the legal profession. I found that law students who had family in practice also had a better perspective from the outset.

Q: Do you have a person or mentor whom you credit with helping you with your career?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have several mentors and colleagues who have played significant roles in my career. In law school, professors Angela Carmella, John Wefing, John Cornwell, and Lori Nessel stood out. I then clerked for the Honorable Herman D. Michels, P.J.A.D., who was an ideal role model for any jurist. Thereafter, I worked with Stuart Rabner (now chief justice) and Anne Milgram (then attorney general), both of whom were incredibly gifted attorneys but even better people. Finally, my former partner, Michael Critchley, instilled in me the importance of meticulous preparation and the necessity of sound judgment.

Q: What do you count among your most notable life events or proudest professional achievements?

My most notable life events center on my family. My wife and I are parents to two wonderful teenage daughters. In addition, I have a large number of nieces and nephews. Spending time with my...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT