George Hay (Virginia judge)
United States federal judge
George Hay (December 17, 1765 – September 21, 1830) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Education and career
Born December 17, 1765, in Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, British America, Hay read law. He entered private practice in Petersburg, Virginia, from 1787 to 1801. He continued private practice in Richmond from 1801 to 1803. He was the United States Attorney for the District of Virginia from 1803 to 1816. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1816 to 1822. He resumed private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1822 to 1825. Hay was a close confidant to his father-in-law, James Monroe, especially during the Missouri Crisis. During the Crisis, he anonymously penned a series of pro-slavery essays for publication in the South's leading newspaper, under the title, "For the Enquirer. Missouri Question."
Notable case
During his service as United States Attorney, Hay served as prosecutor during the trial of Aaron Burr.
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