Joseph D. O'Neill

Millville -

Joseph D. O'Neill, 84, of Millville, passed away August 7, 2024.

Born in Bayonne, NJ, O'Neill was a 1954 graduate of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Bloomfield, NJ where he played basketball and served as an altar boy. A 1958 graduate of Seton Hall Preparatory School in W. Orange, NJ, he lettered in track, football and baseball. O'Neill received his B.A. in 1962 from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, and received his J.D. in 1967 from New York Law School.

Admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1968, O'Neill began practicing law in Vineland, New Jersey, and became partner at the firm of Shapiro, Eisenstat, Capizola, O'Neill & Gabage. He then worked as a partner at the firm of Capizola, O'Neill and Fineman before opening his solo practice, Joseph D. O'Neill, P.A. He later partnered with attorney Chuck Coant at O'Neill & Coant, 30 West Chestnut Ave., Vineland. O'Neill was certified in both civil and criminal law.

Among O'Neill's professional accolades is his designation as a "Superlawyer," a peer recognition awarded only to only the top 2% of attorneys licensed in New Jersey. He was also named "Best Lawyers in America," "Who's Who in American Law," and was named member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a membership limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards, and settlements.

O'Neill was a member of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, The American Bar Association, The American Board of Trial Advocates, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey. He served as Treasurer, Secretary and held the position of President of American Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) in 1981.

O'Neill's many high profile cases landed him on television programs such as 20/20 with Barbara Walters, The Gerald Rivera Show, 48 Hours, and The Maury Povich Show.

O'Neill successfully argued the United States Supreme Court Case of Apprendi v. New Jersey (530 U.S. 446) in 2000, a case that has been cited more than 150,000 times as legal precedent, overturning the New Jersey hate crime law. No other South Jersey attorney has successfully won a case in front of the United States Supreme Court in the past 50 years.

O'Neill is predeceased by his wife Susan O'Neill, and is survived by his children, Kimberley and Kelly and his five grandchildren.

Services will be September 4, at Divine Mercy Catholic Church Vineland,NJ, 11 a.m.