Kenneth F. Mullaney, Jr., Esq.

Legal Office: General Counsel

Since February of 2006, Ken has served in the position of Diocesan General Counsel. He is responsible for all legal matters involving the Diocese, as well as the Diocese's parishes, schools and charitable agencies. He handles all general litigation, including automobile, general liability, sex abuse, school and employment cases.

He also handles contracts, leases and real estate. Ken has handled complex and highly charged legal issues involving the Catholic Church, while at the same time providing legal support on a pro bono basis to individual priests and employees of the Diocese's parishes, schools and social service agencies.

Ken has been a member of the New Jersey Bar for over 40 years. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Since 1993, he has been certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney. Ken has lectured for both Caldwell University and the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (currently serving as President), the Union County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the National Diocesan Attorneys Association. He received his B.A. in English in 1976 from Seton Hall University and his J.D. in 1979 from Seton Hall University School of Law. In 2011, Ken was the recipient of the Caritas Award for Advocacy presented by Catholic Charities. In 2020, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Department for Persons with Disabilities, and he was also the recipient of the Advocati Christi Award presented by the Diocese at the annual Red Mass.

Ken has also been honored by his Alma Mater, Seton Hall Preparatory School, on two occasions. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Thomas A. Reynolds Memorial Award for outstanding service to the Fathers’ Club and in 2022, he was the recipient of the Monsignor Thomas G. Fahy Award as the Class of 1972 Alumnus of the Year.