Leveraging Four Decades of Judicial and Litigation Expertise

Attorney William J. O’Grady brings to Parker & O’Grady, LLC a distinguished legal career spanning over four decades, including significant private practice, municipal legal service, and a respected judicial tenure culminating as First Justice of the Westfield District Court. Known for his emphasis on dignity, respect, and community-focused justice, he presided over a broad range of matters—from serious criminal cases to civil disputes—and continues to leverage his judicial insights in service to the firm’s clients.

After graduating from the Western New England School of Law in 1980, Attorney O’Grady joined the Cohen, Rosenthal law firm in Springfield as an Associate Attorney from 1980 to 1985. From 1985 through 2014, Mr. O’Grady served as a partner at Parker & O’Grady, LLC, where he handled civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts. Concurrently, he contributed to municipal governance as Associate City Solicitor of Chicopee (1986–2014) and Westfield (2009–2014), advising on land use, municipal operations, and administrative law. He further demonstrated his dedication to public service as a special prosecutor for the Northwest District Attorney’s Office and as a Criminal Justice Act attorney, representing indigent clients in federal courts for over two decades.

In July 2014, Governor Deval Patrick nominated Attorney O’Grady to the Massachusetts District Courts, and he was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Governor’s Council. He was sworn in on September 5, 2014 and officially began his tenure as an Associate Justice of the Chicopee District Court on September 8, 2014, where he emphasized treating all individuals with dignity and respect and worked to disrupt cycles of addiction and incarceration common in district court dockets. He later served as First Justice of the Westfield Division, overseeing court administration, community outreach, and the full spectrum of district court matters until his retirement in January 2020

Upon retiring from the bench Attorney O’Grady rejoined Parker & O’Grady, LLC in an Of Counsel capacity, where he leverages his judicial insights and extensive trial experience to advise clients.

Education: Attorney O’Grady earned his Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law in 1980, following his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College in 1977.

Bar Admission: Massachusetts; United States District Court, District of Massachusetts

Professional Associations and Memberships: He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Hampden County Bar Association, Hampshire County Bar Association, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, City Solicitor and Town Counsel Association. and Federal District Court Criminal Justice Act Panel.