Gov. Gregoire appoints Edmund Murphy to Pierce County Superior Court

For Immediate Release: May 11, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Edmund Murphy to the Pierce County Superior Court. Murphy currently is a deputy prosecuting attorney with the Pierce County prosecutor�s office.

�Ed�s courtroom experience is impressive, and will serve this court well,� Gregoire said. �As an attorney with the prosecutor�s office for nearly three decades, I�m confident Ed can hit the ground running. He has earned the respect of judges and lawyers for being balanced, thoughtful and fair � and I know he will show the same qualities to the parties that stand before him.�

"I am grateful to Governor Gregoire for the confidence she has shown in me by appointing me to the Superior Court. I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Pierce County in this new capacity,� said Murphy. �As a criminal prosecutor I've handled some of the most difficult cases we face. I recognize the caseload issues facing Superior Court and the need to efficiently manage the courtroom. I also understand the impact that my decisions will have on the lives of the people that come before me. I look forward to the new challenges that await me as a judge."

Murphy became a deputy prosecuting attorney in 1984. During many years as a felony division trial attorney he prosecuted cases ranging from Class C felonies to aggravated murder. For five years, Murphy served as felony division chief. Murphy has held additional supervisory roles at the prosecutor�s office including juvenile division chief, misdemeanor division chief, drug trial team supervisor and supervisor of the robbery/assault trial team. Murphy also helped establish the Pierce County Drug Court. Since last July, Murphy has been a civil division attorney � serving as a legal advisor to Pierce County agencies.

�Three qualities stand out in the character of Ed Murphy. These three qualities are integrity, a strong work ethic, and the understanding that justice is ultimately about fairness,� said Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor. �These qualities are reflected in his conduct throughout his career and I believe that they will make him an exceptionally strong and well respected Superior Court Judge.�

�Deputy Prosecutor Ed Murphy brings 26 years of experience in the Prosecutor�s Office to our Superior Court bench,� said Mark Lindquist, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney. �I�m confident he will carry the values of the Prosecutor�s Office � hard work, accountability, teamwork, and the pursuit of justice � to the bench.�

In 2005 Murphy was presented the Civility Award by the Honorable Robert J. Bryan Chapter of the American Inns of Court, a group of judges and lawyers who hold programs and discussions on professionalism and ethics. �This award recognizes the character, integrity and professionalism that Ed shows to everyone in the justice system on a daily basis,� said Pierce County Superior Judge James R. Orlando, the current president.

Outside of the prosecutor�s office, Murphy has been an active volunteer in his community, serving as school commission chair at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School since 2005. Murphy has also been a volunteer judge for the University Place Youth Court.

Murphy earned a bachelor�s degree in political science from the University of Washington before attending the University of Puget Sound School of Law. His appointment to Department 9 of the Pierce County Superior Court is effective May 17.

Gregoire also announced today the appointment of Elizabeth Martin to Department 16 of the Pierce County Superior Court.

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