Joseph F. Murphy Jr.


Joseph F. Murphy Jr. is 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, the highest court in Maryland. Prior to being appointed to the Court of Appeals, Judge Murphy served as the Chief Judge of the Court of Special Appeals, Maryland's intermediate court of appeals. Judge Murphy is also an instructor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Background

Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, January 9, 1944. Attended St. Bernard's High School, Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Boston College, A.B., 1965; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1969. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 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. After leaving the office of the State's attorney, he was a named partner at the Towson law firm of White & Murphy.

Judicial career

Upon his retirement from the bench, Judge Murphy joined the Baltimore-based law firm of Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, where he serves as litigation support, and heads the firm's Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. Judge Murphy's daughter is currently an attorney in the firm's appellate litigation division. On December 22, 2011, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced his appointment of Robert N. 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.

Awards