He was a law clerk for the Office of the Deputy State Attorney General of California from 1940 to 1942.

He was in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II, from 1942 to 1946.

While in the Navy, he served as a Combat Intelligence Officer with the Seventh Fleet Headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur in Brisbane, Australia.

[2] MacBride was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on September 14, 1961, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, to a new seat authorized by 75 Stat.

He was a Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 1979 to 1980.