Letter to the Editor

Georgia legal community mourns loss of Judge Harold Murphy

Daily Report
The Haralson County Gateway-Beacon
, Bremen
The Polk County Standard Journal, Cedartown
Rome News-Tribune

To the Editor:

The State Bar of Georgia extends condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends of longtime U.S. District Court Judge Harold L. Murphy on his passing at the age of 95.

A member of the Georgia Bar since 1949, Judge Murphy began his career practicing law in his home county of Haralson, building a thriving practice first in Buchanan and later in Tallapoosa, also serving 10 years as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1971, Judge Murphy was appointed by then-Gov. Jimmy Carter as a Superior Court judge in the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit, covering Haralson and Polk counties. 

Six years later, then-President Carter appointed Judge Murphy to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. For the next 45 years, Judge Murphy earned a national reputation for his wisdom, sense of humor and fair treatment to all who entered his courtroom during service as a federal judge. He served full-time for four decades and did not take senior judge status until the age of 90.

The exemplary life and career of Judge Harold Murphy is an inspiration to all Georgia lawyers and judges. We appreciate and will remember his many contributions to the cause of justice in our state and nation.

Sincerely,
 
Sarah B. “Sally” Akins
President, State Bar of Georgia

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