--- title: "Liam O'Grady | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/liam-o-grady-2452" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Liam O'Grady U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia - State: Virginia - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, E.D. Virginia, 2007-present - Appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts "John Roberts (Supreme Court)") for a seven-year term beginning on August 21, 2020, and retired on July 5, 2023 - O'Grady became a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia — 2003–2007 - Early in his career, he held the role of an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Virginia (1982–1986) and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (1986–1992) before entering private practice from 1992 to 2003 at the intellectual property law firm Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner - Assistant commonwealth attorney, Arlington County, VA, 1982-1986 ### Education - George Mason University School of Law — J.D. (1977) - Franklin & Marshall College — B.A. (1973) - Antonin Scalia Law School ### Additional information - He assumed senior status on May 1, 2020, and retired from active service on August 18, 2023 - He also served on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2020 to 2023 - Joined the court in 2007 after being nominated by President George W. Bush (R) - received his commission on July 11, 2007 - Private practice, Virginia, 1979-1982 - Born 1950 in Newark, New Jersey - Date of birth: 1950-01-01 - Liam O'Grady had a distinguished judicial career spanning over two decades - He was replaced in certain Megaupload cases due to a conflict of interest stemming from a financial stake in Disney - He continues to be active in litigation strategy, trial consulting, and mediation through his firm, Liam O’Grady Consulting LLC - Judge O'Grady has received numerous awards for public service, including the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, and is recognized for his mentorship in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia - Birth place: Newark, NJ - During his tenure, Judge O'Grady presided over high-profile cases, including the extradition proceedings against Kim Dotcom related to Megaupload and the case against whistleblower Daniel Hale - Beyond the bench, O'Grady has contributed to legal education, teaching trial advocacy at the National College of Trial Advocacy at the University of Virginia and George Washington University School of Law ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### cell phones and electronic devices Scope: statewide Virginia courts commonly restrict cell phones and other electronic devices in court buildings; counsel and litigants should check the local court policy before arrival. Evidence excerpt: Most courts in Virginia do not allow you to bring a cell phone or other electronic device into the building. [Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy](https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/30/cell-phone-electronic-device-policy) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2452/liam-ogrady/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2452/liam-ogrady/) - [U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2452/liam-ogrady/) - [Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy](https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/30/cell-phone-electronic-device-policy) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2452/liam-ogrady/) - [O'Grady, Liam | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/ogrady-liam) - [Liam O'Grady](https://ballotpedia.org/Liam_O%27Grady) - [Wikidata: Liam O'Grady](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6539753) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/liam-o-grady-2452", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/liam-o-grady-2452", "name": "Liam O'Grady | KnowJudges", "description": "Liam O'Grady, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. 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