The Honorable
Robert C. Murphy
Chief Justice of Maryland Court of Appeals
In office
1972–1996
Appointed byMarvin Mandel
Preceded byHall Hammond
Succeeded byRobert M. Bell
Attorney General of Maryland
In office
1966
Preceded byThomas B. Finan
Succeeded byFrancis B. Burch
Personal details
Born(1926-10-09)October 9, 1926
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedOctober 31, 2000(2000-10-31) (aged 74)
Timonium, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHelen Murphy
ChildrenKaren, Thomas, and Kathy
Parent(s)Leo Joseph Murphy and Eva (LaFontaine) Murphy
EducationUniversity of Maryland (J.D.)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1944–1946
UnitNevada National Guard
Battles/warsWorld War II

Robert Charles Murphy (October 9, 1926 – October 31, 2000) was a Maryland lawyer and jurist.[1][2][3] He served as Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, from 1972 to October 9, 1996, the same that day he turned 70 years old. Seventy is the Maryland State Constitution's mandatory retirement age for judges, which Murphy unsuccessfully attempted to raise to 75 years old.[1][3] Murphy was 45 years old when he was appointed by then Governor Marvin Mandel, making Murphy the youngest chief judge in Maryland state history.[1]

Early life and career

Robert Charles Murphy was born in Baltimore and attended Baltimore public schools, including Forest Park Senior High School.[1][3] He served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946.[1][3] He graduated from the University of Maryland Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1951.[3] In 1952, he was admitted to the Maryland bar.[1][3]

From 1955 to 1966, Murphy worked for the office of the Attorney General of Maryland, and in 1966, became Attorney General.[2]

After his mandatory retirement as Chief Judge in 1996, the Maryland Court of Appeals building in Annapolis was renamed and dedicated in his honor as the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building.[4][5][3]

Personal life

Murphy was married to Helen Murphy. They had three children, Karen, Thomas and Kathy, and seven grandchildren.[3]

His daughter, Karen Murphy Jensen, served as judge for the Circuit Court of Caroline County, Maryland from 1999 to 2016, and currently holds senior judge status.[6]

He was Catholic.[2]

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rasmussen, Frederick (2000-11-01). "Robert Murphy dies at 74, appeals court chief judge: Practical centrist revamped Md. courts". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  2. ^ a b c Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Murphy, O to R". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Dunaway, Karen (2005-06-09). "Robert C. Murphy (1926-2000) - MSA SC 3520-1525 - Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series)". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  4. ^ Rey, Diane M. (2012-01-06). "Around Annapolis: Courthouse ceremony unites past and present for family". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  5. ^ "Court of Appeals - ROBERT C. MURPHY COURTS OF APPEAL BUILDING". www.courts.state.md.us. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  6. ^ "Karen Murphy Jensen, Maryland Circuit Court Judge". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
Legal offices Preceded byThomas B. Finan Attorney General of Maryland 1966 Succeeded byFrancis B. Burch Preceded byHall Hammond Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals 1972–1996 Succeeded byRobert M. Bell


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