| Moxila A. Upadhyaya | |
|---|---|
| United States Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gujarat, India |
| Education | Missouri School of Journalism (Bachelor of Journalism) University of Missouri (Bachelor of Arts) American University Washington College of Law (JD) |
Moxila A. Upadhyaya (pronunciation) is a United States magistrate judge. Before becoming a magistrate judge in September 2022, she was a partner at the law firm Venable LLP.
As a magistrate judge, Upadhyaya has presided over preliminary and limited matters for cases, including the arraignment in the federal prosecution of Donald Trump related to the 2020 election.
Early life and education
Born in Gujarat, India, Moxila A. Upadhyaya was raised near Kansas City, Missouri. She studied at the University of Missouri and was awarded a Juris Doctor by American University Washington College of Law in 2003.
Career
After graduating, she clerked for Eric Washington before working as a litigation lawyer and later becoming a partner at Venable LLP. In 2009, an organization Upadhyaya worked with as co-counsel pro bono in 2008, the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, awarded Upadhyaya their Defender of Innocence Award. Upadhyaya was a clerk for Robert Wilkins in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2011.
She was appointed as a magistrate judge on September 7, 2022, and works at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington D.C. Since her appointment, she has served as a magistrate judge for several proceedings involving people charged with alleged offences committed during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
The prosecution of Donald J. Trump on charges related to alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election was assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan before the arraignment, on August 1, 2023. At the arraignment, Upadhyaya received the plea from Trump in response to the charges, set a schedule for pre-trial motions and discovery and set the terms of bail which did not include any cash bond or travel restrictions. At the hearing, Upadhyaya warned Trump against influencing witnesses through direct discussion or intimidation.
Upadhyaya has served on the Board of Directors for the D.C. Access to Justice Foundation and Council for Court Excellence. She was also a member of the Administrative Law Review.
References
- "Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya". United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ Deliso, Meredith (August 3, 2023). "Who is Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya in Trump's Jan. 6 case?". ABC News. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Patil, Anuska (August 3, 2023). "Who is the judge handling Trump's initial court appearance?". The New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- "One Hundred and Seventeenth Commencement". American University Washington College of Law. May 18, 2003. p. 11. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- Katkin, Brian (August 8, 2008). "Prosecutors Back Off 1990 Murder Conviction". The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- "Moxila Upadhyaya: 5 Facts On The Indian-American Judge Who Warned Trump". NDTV India. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- Singh, Maanvi; Chao-Fong, Léonie; Stein, Chris; Chao-Fong, Maanvi Singh (August 1, 2023). "Trump faces four criminal counts as six co-conspirators listed in January 6 indictment – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
The Trump case has been assigned to US district judge Tanya S Chutkan, according to the court docket.
- ^ Herszenhorn, Miles J. (August 4, 2023). "Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya warned Trump before he left court. Here's what stood out". USA Today. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- "Who is Gujarat-born American judge Moxila Upadhyaya who oversaw Donald Trump's arraignment and release on cognizance". The Economic Times. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.