Judge Tarantino was raised on Long Island and graduated from Seaford High School. He earned his Bachelors degree in Biology from Texas Christian University. At TCU he was elected the first president of the Catholic student organization. While in college, the Judge volunteered as a classroom assistant for autistic children and was a personal aide to a teen with muscular dystrophy. After college, he volunteered for Peace Corps where he taught biology and health science to Malaysian high school students in their native language. He then traveled home, but not before visiting Calcutta where he met with Mother Teresa.
The Judge’s community involvement is extensive: He co-founded and was the first president of the Northeast Coram Civic Association; he served on the Boards of Longwood Alliance and the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations advocating for community concerns; he served as President of the Middle Island Rotary from 2001-2002; he was elected in 1998 to the Longwood School District Board of Education, serving as vice-president from 1999 to 2001 and president from 2001 through 2004; he volunteered time with students, and advocated for educational issues both in Albany and Washington; he presented seminars at the National School Board Association and New York State School Board annual meetings. He is a licensed private pilot, holds a USCG Master Ship Captain's license, and is a certified SCUBA Dive Master.
Judge Tarantino's career began in medical marketing, after which he advanced into medical advertising entrusted with managing multi-million dollar budgets for national brand-name products. in 1991, the Judge earned his law degree from CUNY Law School at Queens College and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut. After operating his private practice for almost 10 years- focusing in the areas of matrimonial and family law- he became a partner of a local prestigious law firm. The Judge served as a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association Ethics Committee and served as an Arbitrator for the Suffolk County District Court.
In March 2004, Judge Tarantino joined the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office Family Court Bureau representing Suffolk County in hundreds of child abuse and neglect cases. As Assistant County Attorney, he ensured compliance with Article 10 and the new Article 10-a Permanency Proceedings, expedited modifications to visitation, custody and program mandates, conducted Termination of Parental Rights hearings, supervised Judicial Surrenders of Parental Rights, represented the County in Juvenile Delinquency proceedings, conducted emergency Order of Protection and Child Removal hearings, compiled the first computerized case-management index for use in courtroom, implemented reminder systems for attorneys, and designed and conducted training sessions for Child Protective Services caseworkers. He has been a guest lecturer for the Suffolk Bar Academy of Law.
Judge Tarantino was elected to the Bench in 2006. After 9 years on the bench he continues to be known for approaching his judicial duties with the same vigor and freshness as he did his first day- giving full time and attention to each of his cases. In addition to the full days he devotes to his judicial responsibilities, the Judge regularly speaks in local junior high school career day programs and serves as a judge on mock trials ranging from the junior high school through college level. He is active with the Suffolk County Bar Association as Co-Chairperson of the Young Lawyers Committee, as a member of the Leadership Development Committee, and develops and participates in the continuing legal education programs at the Association.
On the personal side, in April 2015 following a family tragedy, the Judge became legal guardian of his 17-year old nephew, which he admits has been an eye-opening experience. The Judge is also the primary caretaker for his mother who was recently diagnosed with severe Alzheimer's disease.
The Judge’s community involvement is extensive: He co-founded and was the first president of the Northeast Coram Civic Association; he served on the Boards of Longwood Alliance and the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations advocating for community concerns; he served as President of the Middle Island Rotary from 2001-2002; he was elected in 1998 to the Longwood School District Board of Education, serving as vice-president from 1999 to 2001 and president from 2001 through 2004; he volunteered time with students, and advocated for educational issues both in Albany and Washington; he presented seminars at the National School Board Association and New York State School Board annual meetings. He is a licensed private pilot, holds a USCG Master Ship Captain's license, and is a certified SCUBA Dive Master.
Judge Tarantino's career began in medical marketing, after which he advanced into medical advertising entrusted with managing multi-million dollar budgets for national brand-name products. in 1991, the Judge earned his law degree from CUNY Law School at Queens College and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut. After operating his private practice for almost 10 years- focusing in the areas of matrimonial and family law- he became a partner of a local prestigious law firm. The Judge served as a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association Ethics Committee and served as an Arbitrator for the Suffolk County District Court.
In March 2004, Judge Tarantino joined the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office Family Court Bureau representing Suffolk County in hundreds of child abuse and neglect cases. As Assistant County Attorney, he ensured compliance with Article 10 and the new Article 10-a Permanency Proceedings, expedited modifications to visitation, custody and program mandates, conducted Termination of Parental Rights hearings, supervised Judicial Surrenders of Parental Rights, represented the County in Juvenile Delinquency proceedings, conducted emergency Order of Protection and Child Removal hearings, compiled the first computerized case-management index for use in courtroom, implemented reminder systems for attorneys, and designed and conducted training sessions for Child Protective Services caseworkers. He has been a guest lecturer for the Suffolk Bar Academy of Law.
Judge Tarantino was elected to the Bench in 2006. After 9 years on the bench he continues to be known for approaching his judicial duties with the same vigor and freshness as he did his first day- giving full time and attention to each of his cases. In addition to the full days he devotes to his judicial responsibilities, the Judge regularly speaks in local junior high school career day programs and serves as a judge on mock trials ranging from the junior high school through college level. He is active with the Suffolk County Bar Association as Co-Chairperson of the Young Lawyers Committee, as a member of the Leadership Development Committee, and develops and participates in the continuing legal education programs at the Association.
On the personal side, in April 2015 following a family tragedy, the Judge became legal guardian of his 17-year old nephew, which he admits has been an eye-opening experience. The Judge is also the primary caretaker for his mother who was recently diagnosed with severe Alzheimer's disease.