Born in
Union City,
New Jersey, Modarelli received an
Artium Baccalaureus degree from
Columbia University in 1920, an
Artium Magister degree from the same institution in 1922, and a
Master of Laws from
Columbia Law School in 1922. He was in private practice in Union City from 1922 to 1948. He was a Judge of the Municipal Court of Union City from 1925 to 1934, an assistant prosecutor for
Hudson County, New Jersey from 1934 to 1944, and a special assistant corporation counsel for Union City from 1944 to 1948. From 1948 to 1951, he served as
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. ==Federal judicial service==