Faculty Profiles
Nicholas P. Cafardi
Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law
Joseph Katarincic Chair in Legal Process and Civil Procedure
Duquesne University School of Law
Dean Cafardi spent several years in Rome completing
his canon law degree. He holds a J.D. from the
University of Pittsburgh. Dean Cafardi has served
as legal counsel for the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Pittsburgh and later as general counsel to
Duquesne University before being named Dean of
the Law School in 1993.
Cafardi has taught canon law at the law school
for the last 10 years, and holds a J.C.D. in
canon law from St. Thomas University in Rome.
He is an acknowledged expert in church law. He was one of the original members of the USCCB's National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Youth (The Dallas Norms) and his book on this topic, Before Dallas, is published by Paulist Press.
Dr. Samuel Astorino
Professor of Law
Duquesne University School of Law
Dr. Astorino holds a Ph.D. in history and a J.D.
in law. His teaching specialty at Duquesne University
is in the field of legal history in which he has
taught various courses, including American Legal
History, Constitutional History, and Roman Law.
Astorino also served as a clerk on the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania for nearly nine years; served
in the office of district attorney of Allegheny
County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and was in private
practice. He has published numerous articles in
the field of legal history.
Ronald J. Ricci
Professor of Law
Duquesne University School of Law
Professor Ricci, a corporate lawyer, earned his
B.S.B.A. with a major in Accounting and his J.D.
from the Duquesne University. Professor Ricci
has been a member of the bar of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania since 1976. He worked as a law
clerk to the former Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Justice Louis L. Manderino, and as an associate
with the Pittsburgh law firm of Berkman, Ruslander,
Pohl, Leiber & Engel (Now Buchanon, Ingersoll
& Rooney, P.C.), specializing in corporate and
tax law and ERISA. He is a specialist in the
Legal Process of Canonization.
Rev. Louis F. Vallone
Chaplain
Duquesne University School of Law
Fr. Vallone is the long-time chaplain of the School of Law and has participated in the program since its inception. Fr. Vallone holds an M.Div. from St. Meinrad's School of Theology and an M.A. from the University of Indiana. Fr. Vallone provides a pastoral dimension to the Canon Law classes. |
