Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Brady received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University Law School in 1969.

On July 14, 1999, Brady was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana vacated by John Victor Parker.

Brady was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 24, 2000, and received his commission on May 25, 2000.

[1] Brady was still active at the time of his death and had been scheduled to preside over a case of an individual charged with attempting to steal President Donald Trump's tax returns, with jury selection scheduled to begin just two days after his death.

[2] Media related to James Joseph Brady at Wikimedia Commons