Born in Alton, Illinois, Riley received a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Louis University in 1964 and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1967.
On August 16, 1994, Riley was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, created by 104 Stat.
On December 10, 1999, President Clinton certified Riley involuntarily as disabled pursuant to the act of September 2, 1957, 71 Stat.
586, which authorized the President to appoint an additional judge for the court and provided that no successor to the judge certified as disabled be appointed.
Michael Joseph Reagan was appointed to the additional judgeship.