Attorney General Eric Holder appointed Judge McGrail in April 2013. Judge McGrail received a bachelor of arts degree in 1985 from Vanderbilt University and a juris doctorate in 1989 from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law. From 2008 to April 2013, she served as legal director at Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition (CAIR Coalition) in Washington, D.C. From 2007 to 2008, Judge McGrail served as an of counsel for the Law Office of Richard S. Bromberg in Washington, D.C. From 2005 to 2007, she served as the detention project director and legal consultant for CAIR Coalition. From 1994 to 2005, Judge McGrail was a solo practitioner in Washington, D.C. From 1991 to 1994, she was an associate at Wasserman, Mancini & Chang in Washington, D.C. From 1989 to 1990, Judge McGrail was an associate at Brown & Wood in New York. Judge McGrail is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.