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Moxila A. Upadhyaya is an Indo-American magistrate judge who gained prominence for presiding over the case on former American President Donald Trump for criminal charges such as conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
Wiki/Biography
Moxila A. Upadhyaya was born in March 1978 (age 45 years; as of 2023) in Gujarat, India. Soon after her birth, her family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, USA. After completing her schooling, she attended the Missouri School of Journalism in 2000, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts with honours in Latin. In 2003, she received her J.D. (Juris Doctor) from the American University, Washington College of Law. There, she distinguished herself through her trial work representing clients in the Criminal Justice Clinic and was a member of the Administrative Law Review.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Moxila’s father’s name is Ajit Kumar Upadhyaya and her mother’s is Renuka Upadhyaya.
Husband & Children
There is not much information about Moxila’s marital status.
Address
She resides at 575 7th Street Northwest, Washington DC, USA 20004, whereas her office address is, E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse 333 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20001.
Signature/Autograph
Career
After completing her law degree, Upadhyaya served a two-year term as a law clerk to Eric T Washington, the former Chief Judge of the DC Court of Appeals. She then joined Venable LLP, a private law firm based in Washington DC, where she practised complex commercial and administrative litigation.
Venable LLP office in Washington DC where Moxila Upadhayaya has worked
From 2011-2012, Moxila served as the first law clerk to the Honorable Robert L. Wilkins during his tenure as a District Judge in the United States District of Columbia Court. She then rejoined Venable LLP, and during her time as an associate and ultimately a partner at the firm, she dedicated her pro bono practice to representing indigent clients in post-conviction proceedings. This included representing clients who raised challenges under the D.C. Innocence Protection Act and the D.C. Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act. Moxila A. Upadhyaya was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge on 7 September 2022.
Appointment letter of Moxila A Upadhyaya
In addition to this, she is the former Co-Chair of the District of Columbia (D.C.) Bar Litigation Section Steering Committee and has served on the Board of Directors for the District of Columbia (D.C.) Access to Justice Foundation and Council for Court Excellence.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year 2006 by the Venable LLP Washington DC
- David W. Goewey Lawyer of the Year Award by the Venable LLP Washington DC
- Defender of Innocence Award 2009 from the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project
Facts/Trivia
- Her complete name is Moxila Ajitkumar Upadhyaya.
- In 2009, Moxila A. Upadhyaya was awarded the Defender of Innocence Award by the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project for her representation of a client who was wrongfully imprisoned for 19 years for a murder he did not commit.
- On 1 January 2021, she was appointed as one of the members of the United States District Court Committee on Grievances for a term of two years, which is scheduled to conclude on 31 December 2023.
- Moxila is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, District of Columbia Bar, and Maryland State Bar Association.
- Moxila is a mentor for the Abramson Scholarship Foundation.
- In 2023, Moxila A. Upadhyaya presided over the appearance of former US President Donald Trump in a federal courthouse in Washington DC, where Trump entered a plea of not guilty on criminal charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.