Alfred P. Murrah
Encyclopedia
Alfred Paul Murrah was an American
attorney
and judge
. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
, which was named after him, was destroyed in the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing
.
, Murrah ran away from home at the age of 13, riding freight trains until he was dropped in the community of Tuttle, Oklahoma
. A local family took him in and housed him, in exchange for labor on their farm. Murrah worked his way through high school
and college
, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
. He earned his LL.B. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
in 1928.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
appointed Murrah to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
, Northern District of Oklahoma
, and Eastern District of Oklahoma
, on February 8, 1937. Confirmed
by the Senate
on February 25, 1937, he received commission
on March 3, 1937, becoming at the age of 32 one of the youngest federal judges
in history.
On August 5, 1940, Roosevelt nominated Murrah to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
, to the seat vacated by Robert E. Lewis
. Confirmed by the Senate on August 29, 1940, he received his commission on September 4, 1940. Murrah served on the court until his retirement in 1970 and was chief judge from 1959 to 1970. From 1969 to 1974, he directed the Federal Judicial Center
in Washington, D.C.
Chief Justice of the United States
Warren Burger referred to Murrah as "one of the foremost figures in the American judiciary." He is noted for having pioneered the practices of pretrial conferences and of litigation panels with judges from multiple judicial districts.
. A Methodist, Murrah taught Sunday School classes at Oklahoma City's Crown Heights Methodist Church, of which he was a major financial supporter. Murrah was also a Freemason
.
Murrah was an extremely active member of Phi Alpha Delta
Law Fraternity, Harlan Chapter, and served as the fraternity's Supreme Justice from 1962-1964.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The building was the target of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people, including 19 children...
, which was named after him, was destroyed in the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
.
Early life and education
Born in Tishomingo, OklahomaTishomingo, Oklahoma
Tishomingo is the largest city and the county seat of Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census. It was the first capital of the Chickasaw Nation. Murray State College, a community college, with an annual enrollment of 1,600 students is located in...
, Murrah ran away from home at the age of 13, riding freight trains until he was dropped in the community of Tuttle, Oklahoma
Tuttle, Oklahoma
Tuttle is a city in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,294 at the 2000 census.Tuttle is a largely agricultural community with a focus on wheat, cotton, corn, alfalfa hay, Bermuda grass hay, and cattle. Nearby Braum's Dairy, the largest farm in the area, is located just...
. A local family took him in and housed him, in exchange for labor on their farm. Murrah worked his way through high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
. He earned his LL.B. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
in 1928.
Career
PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
appointed Murrah to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is a Federal district court....
, Northern District of Oklahoma
United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is the Federal district court for a portion of the state of Oklahoma....
, and Eastern District of Oklahoma
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray,...
, on February 8, 1937. Confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 25, 1937, he received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
on March 3, 1937, becoming at the age of 32 one of the youngest federal judges
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in history.
On August 5, 1940, Roosevelt nominated Murrah to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Colorado* District of Kansas...
, to the seat vacated by Robert E. Lewis
Robert E. Lewis
Robert E. Lewis was a United States federal judge.Born in Cass County, Missouri, Lewis studied at Westminster College, Missouri in Fulton. After this he read law to enter the bar in 1880. He was in private practice in Clinton, Missouri from 1880 to 1897. He was a Prosecuting attorney of Henry...
. Confirmed by the Senate on August 29, 1940, he received his commission on September 4, 1940. Murrah served on the court until his retirement in 1970 and was chief judge from 1959 to 1970. From 1969 to 1974, he directed the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Chief Justice of the United States
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
Warren Burger referred to Murrah as "one of the foremost figures in the American judiciary." He is noted for having pioneered the practices of pretrial conferences and of litigation panels with judges from multiple judicial districts.
Personal life
Murrah identified politically with the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. A Methodist, Murrah taught Sunday School classes at Oklahoma City's Crown Heights Methodist Church, of which he was a major financial supporter. Murrah was also a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Murrah was an extremely active member of Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Alpha Delta
ΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
Law Fraternity, Harlan Chapter, and served as the fraternity's Supreme Justice from 1962-1964.