Mahmoud was born and grew up in Rusafa, attending both primary and high school in Baghdad, before attending the College of Law at Baghdad University, which he graduated from as part of the class of 1959 as top of his class.

[2] After being admitted to the bar, he practiced law and also served as a reserve officer in the Iraqi Army.

As a judge he served in numerous places in central Iraq, including Ar Rifa`i, Qalat Sukur, Musayyib, the Juvenile Court in Baghdad, as well as the Courts of First Instance in Kadhimiya and Baghdad.

[3] Following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq al-Mahmoud was made a supervisor, or minister, for the Ministry of Justice by the Coalition Provisional Authority on 12 June 2003.

Mahmoud then filed a successful appeal to the cassation panel, which failed to find any strong evidence of ties to the previous regime, and rejected al-Mahmoud's dismissal.