McGohey was born in New York City and graduated from Xavier High School in 1913.
He then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University in 1917 and was in the United States Army during World War I from 1918 to 1919.
He was an assistant state attorney general of New York from 1933 to 1943, and was Chief Assistant United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York from 1944 to 1949.
[1] McGohey received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman on October 21, 1949, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, to a new seat authorized by 63 Stat.
He was nominated to the same position by President Truman on January 5, 1950.