Career
Neals received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982 from Morehouse College. He received a Juris Doctor in 1991 from Emory University School of Law. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Seymour Margulies of the New Jersey Superior Court in Hudson County, from 1991 to 1992.
From 1992 to 2006 and in 2014, he worked at Chasan, Leyner & Lamparello, Professional Corporation, where he practiced general litigation in state and Federal courts.
From 2006 to 2014, he worked for the City of Newark, as Chief Judge of the Newark Municipal Court from 2006 to 2008, Corporation Counsel from 2008 to 2010 and Business Administrator from 2010 to 2014. Since January 2015, he has served as County Counsel for Bergen County.
On February 26, 2015, President Obama nominated Neals to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, to the seat vacated by Judge Faith South. Hochberg, who retired on March 6, 2015. He received a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2015.
On November 5, 2015 his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.
His nomination is now pending before the full Senate.
