Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McVerry received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duquesne University in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 1968.

In 1978, McVerry was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and represented a number of south hills communities in the General Assembly for six terms through 1990.

[2] He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1998 to 2000.

He was a Solicitor/General counsel, Community College of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2002.

McVerry was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 23, 2002, to a seat vacated by Donald Emil Ziegler.