Maggie Cleary

Mary Margaret “Maggie” Cleary serves as deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Culpeper County, Virginia. She teaches Trial Advocacy at the Law School.

Cleary, who is originally from Springfield, Virginia, is a seventh-generation Virginian. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 2014, double-majoring in American studies and philosophy, with a concentration in bioethics. She participated in multiple debate teams while in undergraduate school, including the Philodemic Society, one of the oldest college debate clubs in the U.S.

Cleary earned her J.D. from UVA Law School, where she served on the executive board of the Federalist Society. During her third year, she participated in the Prosecution Clinic. Her assigned clinic placement was with the Culpeper County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. After Law School, she became an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Culpeper.

In 2021, Cleary accepted the position of assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, based out of the Roanoke office. Her caseload mainly focused on gun and drug cases, and holding drug dealers responsible.

She was later tapped by Gov. Glen Youngkin to be deputy secretary of public safety, and subsequently worked as special counsel for Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Cleary returned to the Commonwealth Attorney's Office in 2024 as a deputy commonwealth attorney in January 2024. Cleary has tried and won jury trials, felony bench trials and misdemeanors. She has appeared in state and federal courts throughout the commonwealth. She also has received specialized training for a variety of prosecutions, including crimes committed against children.