Earley was born in Norfolk and graduated from the College of William and Mary, receiving first an undergraduate degree in religion and later a J.D.
[1] After admission to the Virginia bar, Earley had a private legal practice in Norfolk for fifteen years.
He was succeeded by Randy Forbes, who later won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th congressional district.
He had a mixed record on consumer issues, and also had initiatives against abortion and for youth mentoring during his years in office.
[6] He garnered media attention in 2015 because of his changed attitudes towards criminal justice issues, now focusing on rehabilitation rather than incarceration, and coming out against the death penalty although he had defended executions as Attorney General.