Bailey was born in
Wheeling, West Virginia. He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
Dartmouth College in 1973 and a
Juris Doctor from
West Virginia University College of Law in 1976. He was a
law clerk to Judge
Charles H. Haden II of the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia from 1976 to 1978. He was in private practice in Wheeling from 1978 to 2007, also serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney of
Ohio County from 1985 to 1986, and a special assistant prosecuting attorney of
Marshall County from 1985 to 1990.
Federal judicial service On January 9, 2007, Bailey was nominated by President
George W. Bush to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia vacated by
Frederick Pfarr Stamp Jr. Bailey was confirmed by the
United States Senate on March 15, 2007, and received his commission on March 19, 2007. He served as chief judge of the district from 2008 through 2015. ==Sources==