Patricia K. Costello

Patricia Costello served for more than 25 years as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, including ten years as the Assignment Judge in Essex County. During her tenure as Assignment Judge, she supervised all of the county’s trial and municipal courts, including more than 100,000 filings per year, 1,000 employees and a $55 million annual budget.

Appointed to the bench in 1989 by then Governor Thomas Kean, Judge Costello spent the first 15 years of her judicial career in Hudson County, serving first in the Criminal Division where she became Presiding Judge, then in the Civil Division where she directly supervised the Special Civil Part. She also served in the Family Division where she again became Presiding Judge. Judge Costello served on and as chair of numerous Supreme Court committees, including vice chair of the Judicial Education Committee.

She concentrates her practice on mediation and arbitration of civil, chancery and matrimonial matters including probate, commercial litigation and labor and employment disputes.

Pat previously served as the Managing Member of CSG Law, where she provided overall strategic direction and oversaw the day-to-day management of the firm’s business affairs. She developed and implemented strategies to achieve organizational goals and objectives, while also ensured that the highest level of care was taken in serving clients. She also provided guidance and direction to the firm’s administrative team and assured that all financial and operational activities were conducted efficiently and effectively.

Pat earned her J.D. from Rutgers Law School and her B.A. from Seton Hall University. After law school, Judge Costello clerked for the Honorable Thomas McCole, Hudson County Superior Court.