Bruce Allen Murphy
Encyclopedia
Bruce Allen Murphy, Ph.D., is a judicial biographer and scholar of American Constitutional law and politics. He is the Fred Morgan Kirby Professor of Civil Rights at Lafayette College
in Easton, Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 1998. Prior to that appointment, he was a professor of Political Science and a professor of American History and Politics at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. He was also a Fellow in the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies while at Penn State.
, Murphy is a 1973 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts
at Amherst where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. While there, he was a student of Professors Dean Alfange, Jr. and Sheldon Goldman
. In 1978, Murphy received his Ph.D. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia
where he studied with Professors Henry J. Abraham
and Robert J. Harris.
Murphy's first book, The Brandeis/Frankfurter Connection: The Secret Political Activities of Two Supreme Court Justices, published in 1982 by Oxford University Press, was the subject of a front-page story in the Sunday New York Times. The book contained details about the financial relationship between Justice Louis D. Brandeis and then-Harvard law professor Felix Frankfurter
. While on the Court, Brandeis provided Frankfurter with funds to promote a variety of political reforms. The book sparked a national debate about the ethics of extrajudicial activities by Supreme Court justices. It received a Certificate of Merit from the American Bar Association
.
In 1988, Murphy's second judicial biography, Fortas: The Rise and Ruin of a Supreme Court Justice, followed the life and career of Abe Fortas
who resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court after his close political ties to President Lyndon B. Johnson
and his financial relationship with Louis Wolfson
, a potential litigant before the Court, came to light. Published by William Morrow & Co., it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
, a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award
, and a National Book Award
.
A third biography, Wild Bill: The Legend and Life of William O. Douglas
, was published in 2003 by Random House
. This is the only definitive biography of the longest-serving Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. This biography describes, "the genius and warts of William O. Douglas, arguably the greatest influence on American jurisprudence." Although Douglas served as a justice for over thirty-six years, his life was, "largely about political intrigue, because, as Murphy documents, Bill Douglas was, at his core, an ambitious politician. He was constantly running for political office, seeking political appointments and playing politics."
In addition to his judicial biographies, Murphy is the co-author (with Larry Berman) of an American Government textbook, Approaching Democracy, with Pearson Education
, now in its seventh edition. He is also the editor of a reader, Portraits of American Politics with Houghton Mifflin Company.
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in Easton, Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 1998. Prior to that appointment, he was a professor of Political Science and a professor of American History and Politics at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. He was also a Fellow in the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies while at Penn State.
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Abington, MassachusettsAbington, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,605 people, 5,263 households, and 3,747 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,469.1 people per square mile . There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile...
, Murphy is a 1973 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
at Amherst where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. While there, he was a student of Professors Dean Alfange, Jr. and Sheldon Goldman
Sheldon Goldman
Dr. Sheldon Goldman is a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the author of Picking Federal Judges and The Federal Courts as a Political System,...
. In 1978, Murphy received his Ph.D. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he studied with Professors Henry J. Abraham
Henry Abraham
Henry J. Abraham, Ph.D., James Hart Professor of Government Emeritus at the University of Virginia, is one of the foremost scholars on the judiciary and constitutional law in the United States. He is the author of 13 books, most in multiple editions, and more than 100 articles on the U.S...
and Robert J. Harris.
Publications
Murphy is the author of three judicial biographies, the co-author of a text book, and the editor of a reader. In addition, he is the author of many book chapters and articles in professional journals.Murphy's first book, The Brandeis/Frankfurter Connection: The Secret Political Activities of Two Supreme Court Justices, published in 1982 by Oxford University Press, was the subject of a front-page story in the Sunday New York Times. The book contained details about the financial relationship between Justice Louis D. Brandeis and then-Harvard law professor Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.-Early life:Frankfurter was born into a Jewish family on November 15, 1882, in Vienna, Austria, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Europe. He was the third of six children of Leopold and Emma Frankfurter...
. While on the Court, Brandeis provided Frankfurter with funds to promote a variety of political reforms. The book sparked a national debate about the ethics of extrajudicial activities by Supreme Court justices. It received a Certificate of Merit from the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
.
In 1988, Murphy's second judicial biography, Fortas: The Rise and Ruin of a Supreme Court Justice, followed the life and career of Abe Fortas
Abe Fortas
Abraham Fortas was a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice from 1965 to 1969. Originally from Tennessee, Fortas became a law professor at Yale, and subsequently advised the Securities and Exchange Commission. He then worked at the Interior Department under Franklin D...
who resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court after his close political ties to President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and his financial relationship with Louis Wolfson
Louis Wolfson
Louis Elwood Wolfson was a Wall Street financier and one of the first modern corporate raiders, labeled by Time Magazine as such in a 1956 article...
, a potential litigant before the Court, came to light. Published by William Morrow & Co., it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
, a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights is a human rights advocacy organization, a nonprofit charitable organization that works to realize Robert Kennedy's dream of a peaceful and just world by advancing human rights...
, and a National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
.
A third biography, Wild Bill: The Legend and Life of William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
, was published in 2003 by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
. This is the only definitive biography of the longest-serving Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. This biography describes, "the genius and warts of William O. Douglas, arguably the greatest influence on American jurisprudence." Although Douglas served as a justice for over thirty-six years, his life was, "largely about political intrigue, because, as Murphy documents, Bill Douglas was, at his core, an ambitious politician. He was constantly running for political office, seeking political appointments and playing politics."
In addition to his judicial biographies, Murphy is the co-author (with Larry Berman) of an American Government textbook, Approaching Democracy, with Pearson Education
Pearson Education
Pearson Education is an international educational publishing and technology company providing textbooks and other educational material, such as multimedia learning tools...
, now in its seventh edition. He is also the editor of a reader, Portraits of American Politics with Houghton Mifflin Company.
Teaching career
Throughout his academic career, Murphy has taught political science, history, and Constitutional law courses including: American Constitutional Law, Liberty in the United States, The First Amendment, Introduction to U.S. Politics, The American Presidency, and seminars on judicial biography. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, including inter alia:- Citation Award winner and Finalist for national "Professor of the Year" from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (1984–87)
- Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching (1987)
- Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award (2011)