Judge Joseph P. Spinola: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Joseph P. Spinola (Ret.) was a justice of the Nassau County Supreme Court in the Tenth Judicial District of New York. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 2004. He retired from the bench in 2010 and joined Resolute Systems as a mediator and arbitrator.

Spinola began his judicial career as a District Court judge in Nassau County after being elected to the seat in January 2003. Over the course of his judicial career, he presided over civil matters.

He received a B.A. in history and philosophy from Hofstra University in 1980. Spinola went on to earn a J.D. from Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1983.

He served as a law clerk with Curtis, Hart & Zaklukiewicz (1984 to 1985) before entering into private practice. He joined Rivkin, Radler, Dunne & Bayh as an associate in 1985 and, the following year, joined the law office of Robert I. Fiedelman. Though, his time there would also be brief.

In 1988, Spinola became a trial lawyer with Nationwide Insurance Company, where he handled personal injury trials including negligence, assaults, liable and slander, products liability, and wrongful death. In concurrence with his role there, he also served as a District Court arbitrator in Nassau County (1988 to 1993).

Upon his departure from Nationwide, Spinola joined Thurm & Heller, where he continued in his personal injury practice. In 1995, he joined Joachim, Flanzig, Frommer & Madigan and remained with the firm until partnering at Spinola & Mirotznik, P.C. in 1997. He was serving in that capacity at the time of his election to the bench.

Spinola has taught trial preparation for the New York Paralegal as an instructor at Hofstra University and Theory of the Case: Appellate Advocacy as an instructor and special professor of law at Hofstra University Law School. In addition, he served as an instructor at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Northeast, Pacific, and Mid-Atlantic Regional Programs, the Widener University Law School Trial Advocacy Program, and the Emory Law School Trial Advocacy Program.

His memberships have included the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York County Bar Association, the Brooklyn Bar Association, the Suffolk County Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association (board of directors), the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Advocates Association, the Nassau-Suffolk Trial Lawyers Association, the Council on Litigation Management, and the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

He grew up in East Meadow, New York. His father, Salvatore Spinola, a New York Police Officer, died in the line of duty when Spinola was eleven years old.