On a Thursday afternoon, former President Donald J. Trump makes an appearance at the U.S. federal courthouse located at the foot of Capitol Hill. The event marks a significant moment in the ongoing government efforts to hold accountable those who are involved in attempts to subvert democracy. The appearance is before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya, a federal magistrate judge.
This appearance comes approximately six weeks after Trump’s arraignment in Miami on charges related to mishandling government documents after leaving the White House and seeking to block investigators. This new federal indictment is expected to follow a similar cadence to his previous one.
Judge Upadhyaya’s role in this particular hearing is relatively straightforward. Trump will be asked to enter a plea in response to the four-count indictment that has been unsealed. Many anticipate that his plea will be not guilty.
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Who is Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya?
Moxila A. Upadhyaya was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge on September 7, 2022. Born in Gujarat, India, she was raised near Kansas City, Missouri.
Judge Upadhyaya pursued her education at the Missouri School of Journalism, where she received her Bachelor of Journalism, magna cum laude, and the University of Missouri, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Latin. She later obtained her J.D., cum laude, from the American University, Washington College of Law.
After completing law school, Judge Upadhyaya served as a law clerk to the Honorable Eric T. Washington, former Chief Judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, for a two-year term. Following her clerkship, she joined Venable LLP’s Washington, D.C. office, specializing in complex commercial and administrative litigation.
Judge Upadhyaya’s legal career encompasses significant achievements, including serving as a law clerk to Hon. Eric T. Washington and Hon. Robert L. Wilkins. She received accolades for her dedication to pro bono work, exemplifying her commitment to justice and the legal community.
