Central alumna presides over Trump arraignment
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Aug. 4—A judge hearing one of the highest-profile legal cases in U.S. history has a strong tie to St. Joseph.
Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, a 1996 Central High School graduate, presided over former President Donald Trump's arraignment Thursday. Trump was brought in for his arraignment on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of his involvement of the Jan. 6 riots.
Upadhyaya graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism before receiving her law degree at American University Washington College of Law.
Classmates from St. Joseph said Upadhyaya excelled in school and was friends with everyone.
"She was super bright," said News-Press NOW's Bruce Hall, a classmate of Upadhyaya's. "One of the top of the class. She was in all the AP classes."
Originally from India, Uphadyaya was apart of many clubs growing up, including drama and debate. In 1992, she represented Northwest Missouri in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Her family also played a role in St. Joseph business, as her father owned the Pony Express motel years ago.
"She's one of those people that wouldn't be (judgmental) in any way," Hall said. "She was very meticulous. I look forward to see her take on all this."
