Early life and education

Born in Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...

, O'Grady received a B.A.

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 from Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....

 in 1973 and a J.D.

Juris Doctor

Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 from George Mason University School of Law

George Mason University School of Law

George Mason University School of Law is the law school of George Mason University, a state university in Virginia, United States...

 in 1977.

Professional career

He was in private practice in Virginia from 1992 to 2003. He was an Assistant commonwealth's attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1982 to 1986. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Virginia from 1986 to 1992.

He was a United States Magistrate Judge

United States magistrate judge

In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...

 for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2003 to 2007.

Federal judicial service

On January 9, 2007, O'Grady was nominated by President George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

 to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia...

 vacated by Claude M. Hilton

Claude M. Hilton

Claude M. Hilton is a United States federal judge.Born in Scott County, Virginia, Hilton received a B.S. from Ohio State University in 1963 and a J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law in 1966. He was an assistant commonwealth's attorney of Arlington, Virginia from 1967 to 1968...

. O'Grady was confirmed by the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 on July 9, 2007, and received his commission on July 11, 2007.

Sources