Diana E. Murphy
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office
November 29, 2016 – May 16, 2018
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office
October 11, 1994 – November 29, 2016
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded byJohn R. Gibson
Succeeded byDavid Stras
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
In office
1992–1994
Preceded byHarry H. MacLaughlin
Succeeded byPaul A. Magnuson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
In office
February 20, 1980 – October 13, 1994
Appointed byJimmy Carter
Preceded bySeat established by 92 Stat. 1629
Succeeded byAnn D. Montgomery
Personal details
Born(1934-01-04)January 4, 1934
Faribault, Minnesota
DiedMay 16, 2018(2018-05-16) (aged 84)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (BA, JD)

Diana E. Murphy (January 4, 1934 – May 16, 2018) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Education and career

Murphy was born in Faribault, Minnesota. She graduated from St. Paul Central High School at age 16 and enrolled at the University of Minnesota, where she majored in Central European Area Studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. She then went on to win a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, where she met her future husband, Joseph Murphy. After getting married, she stayed home to raise their two sons. She received a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1974. At law school, she was an editor of the Minnesota Law Review. She was in private practice of law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1974 to 1976. She was a judge on the Hennepin County Municipal Court, Minnesota from 1976 to 1978. She was a judge on the Minnesota District Court, Fourth Judicial District from 1978 to 1980. She was the Commission Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission from 1999 to 2004.[1][2]

Federal judicial service

Murphy was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on November 30, 1979, to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1980, and received commission the same day. She served as Chief Judge from 1992 to 1994. Her service was terminated on October 13, 1994, due to elevation to the Eighth Circuit.[1]

Murphy was nominated by President Bill Clinton on July 28, 1994, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Judge John R. Gibson. She was confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 1994, and received commission on October 11, 1994. Upon assuming office, Murphy became the first woman to serve on the Eighth Circuit.[1][3]

Murphy assumed senior status on November 29, 2016. She died in her home in Minneapolis on May 16, 2018, shortly after announcing her full retirement from the bench.[4] Later that year, the Minnesota Law Review hosted a memorial symposium in her honor, which included contributions from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Judge Michael Joseph Melloy, and Judge Rubén Castillo.[5]

After her death, the United States federal courthouse in Minneapolis was renamed in her honor.[6][7]

Attorney General consideration

In 1993, she was reportedly considered for the post of Attorney General of the United States, which later went to Janet Reno.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Murphy, Diana E. – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  2. ^ "Justices and Judges of the United States Courts". The Office. 1 January 1980 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Jones, Leigh (May 31, 2010). "8th Circuit lags in female appointees". The National Law Journal. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  4. ^ Pheifer, Pat (May 16, 2018). "Diana Murphy, Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, dies at 84". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  5. ^ "Vol. 103 Print Issues - Minnesota Law Review". 18 January 2019.
  6. ^ Walsh, Paul (October 10, 2018). "Bill to rename U.S. courthouse in Minneapolis after late Judge Diana Murphy awaits president's signature". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Sepic, Matt (October 16, 2019). "Late judge Diana Murphy honored with renaming of Minneapolis federal courthouse". MPR News. Retrieved January 14, 2020.

Sources

Legal offices Preceded bySeat established by 92 Stat. 1629 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 1980–1994 Succeeded byAnn D. Montgomery Preceded byJohn R. Gibson Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 1994–2016 Succeeded byDavid Stras
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