Joseph F. Murphy Jr.

Joseph F. Murphy Jr. (January 9, 1944 – July 28, 2022) was an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland. Between December 17, 2007, and September 30, 2011, he was a judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals,^[1] the highest court in Maryland. Prior to this appointment, Murphy served as the Chief Judge of the Court of Special Appeals, Maryland's intermediate court of appeals.^[2] He was also an instructor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.^[3]

Honorable Joseph F. Murphy Jr.
Judge of the Supreme Court of Maryland
In office 2007–2011
Appointed by	Martin O'Malley
Preceded by	Alan M. Wilner
Succeeded by	Robert N. McDonald
Chief Judge of the Appellate Court of Maryland
In office 1996–2007
Appointed by	Parris Glendening
Judge of the Appellate Court of Maryland
In office 1993–1996
Appointed by	William Donald Schaefer
Succeeded by	Roslyn Blake Bell
Associate Judge of the Baltimore County Circuit Court
In office 1984–1993
Appointed by	Harry R. Hughes
Personal details
Born	(1944-01-09)January 9, 1944 Fitchburg, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	July 27, 2022(2022-07-27) (aged 78) Timonium, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	Boston College University of Maryland School of Law
Committees	Board of Directors, Maryland Judicial Institute, 1985–93, 1995–2000 Chair, Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 1996–2007 Member, Library Committee, State Law Library, 1997–2007 Maryland Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, 1998–2001 Member, Judicial Cabinet, 2000–07 Judicial Council Maryland Judicial Conference, 2000–07 Advisory Board, Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office, 2001–2022 Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Sentencing Alternatives, Re-Entry, and Best Practices, 2010–2022[1]

Background

Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on January 9, 1944, Murphy attended St. Bernard's High School, Fitchburg; Boston College, A.B., 1965; and University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1969. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1969. Murphy practiced law as a staff attorney for Legal Aid then as an Assistant State's Attorney, Baltimore City from 1970 to 1975, then as Deputy State's Attorney for Baltimore City from 1975 to 1976.^[1] After leaving the office of the State's attorney, he was a named partner at the Towson law firm of White & Murphy.^[4]

Judicial career

• Associate Judge, Baltimore County Circuit Court, 3rd Judicial Circuit, 1984–93.
• Judge, Court of Special Appeals, (at-large) July 25, 1993 – 1996
• Chief Judge, Court of Special Appeals, 1996 – December 17, 2007
• Judge, Court of Appeals, (2nd Appellate Circuit (Baltimore & Harford counties)), December 17, 2007 – September 30, 2011.

Upon his retirement from the bench, Judge Murphy joined the Baltimore-based law firm of Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, where he served as litigation support, and headed the firm's Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. Judge Murphy's daughter is currently an attorney in the firm's appellate litigation division.^[5] On December 22, 2011, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced his appointment of Robert N. ("Bob") McDonald, the Chief Counsel of Opinions and Advice for the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, to the Court of Appeals replacing Judge Murphy.^[6]

Judge Murphy died on July 27, 2022, at the age of 78 after suffering from cancer.^[7][8]

Awards

• 2004 Man of All Seasons Award, St. Thomas More Society of Maryland
• 2003 Maryland Top Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record
• 2003 Maryland Champion for Victims Award, Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center^[1]

Maryland Court of Appeals Judges by Seniority
Circuit	Name
6	Chief Judge Robert M. Bell
4	Judge Glenn T. Harrell Jr.
3	Judge Lynne A. Battaglia
5	Judge Clayton Greene Jr.
2	Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr.
1	Judge Sally D. Adkins
7	Judge Mary Ellen Barbera

References

1. "COURT OF APPEALS". Msa.md.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
2. "Joseph F. Murphy, Jr., Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals".
3. "UM Carey Law |". Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
4. Danielle Ulman (January 25, 2011). "Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr. to join Silverman's firm". The Daily Record.
5. "Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Joseph F. Murphy, Jr. Will Join Silverman Thompson Upon His Retirement from the Court".
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. Lash, Steve (July 28, 2022). "Retired Court of Appeals Judge Joseph Murphy dies at 78". The Daily Record. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
8. Rasmussen, Frederick (July 29, 2022). "Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr., former chief judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, dies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 29, 2022.

External links

• Maryland Court of Appeals official site
• Maryland Court of Appeals, "Judge Joseph Murphy sworn in to Court of Appeals", December 18, 2007