Judge Leonie M. Brinkema was appointed to the Eastern District of Virginia by President Bill Clinton in 1993.
Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, Judge Brinkema worked in the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section from 1976 to 1977, then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia's Criminal Division, where she served until 1983. After a period in private practice, she was appointed a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia in 1985, serving until her elevation to the district bench. She was nominated by President Clinton on August 6, 1993, confirmed on October 18, 1993, and received her commission on October 20, 1993. She is known for presiding over high-profile national security and technology cases, including the government's antitrust case against Google in the Alexandria Division.
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., 1976
- Rutgers University, M.L.S. (Master in Legal Studies), 1970
- Rutgers University, B.A., 1966
Career
- U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division), 1993–present
- U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Virginia, 1985–1993
- Private practice (sole practitioner), 1984–1985
- U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, 1983–1984
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Criminal Division, 1977–1983
- U.S. Department of Justice, Public Integrity Section, 1976–1977