Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Meaney received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Saint Peter's College in 1908, an Artium Magister degree from the same institution in 1909, and a Bachelor of Laws from Fordham University School of Law in 1911. He was secretary to Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn of Jersey City from 1911 to 1913. He was in private practice in Jersey City from 1913 to 1917. He served in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919 and achieved the rank of first lieutenant. He was in private practice in Jersey City from 1919 to 1934. He was a Judge of the Hudson County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in New Jersey from 1923 to 1934. He was a Judge of the Hudson County Court of Common Pleas from 1934 to 1938. He was a Judge of the New Jersey State Court of Common Pleas from 1938 to 1939. He was counsel for the New Jersey State Banking and Insurance Commission from 1939 to 1942.[1]
