On October 31, 2011, Judge Murphy retired from the Court of Appeals to join his daughter, Erin, at Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin and White, where he will provide consultation and ADR services.

From January to August of 1970 he was a Legal Aid Bureau Staff Attorney. From 1970 to 1975, he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City; and from 1975 to 1976, he served as the Deputy State’s Attorney. From 1976 to 1984, he was a partner in the firm of White & Murphy, appearing regularly in trial courts and in appellate courts on behalf of criminal defendants.

Judge Murphy’s clients included lawyers, Sherman v. State, 288 Md. 636 (1980) and In Re Siegel. 294 Md. 635 (1982); “fences” United States v. Stencil, 629 F.2d 984 (4th Cir. 1980); adult book store owners, United States v. Morrow, 717 F.2d 800 (3rd Cir. 1983); gamblers, Silbert v. Ramsey, 301 Md. 96 (1984); and tavern owners, Turner v. State, 299 Md. 565 (1984); accused of such crimes as arson, State v. Hiken, 43 Md. App. 259 (1979); felonious assault, Burrell v. State, 42 Md. App. 130 (1979); R.I.C.O. violations, United States v. Griffin, 660 F.2d 996 (4th Cir. 1981); theft from interstate shipment, United States v. Hadaway, 681 F.2d 214 (4th Cir. 1982); murder, Robertson v. State, 295 Md. 688 (1983); income tax evasion, Winters v. State, 301 Md. 214 (1984), and selling drugs, Wright v. State, 58 Md. App. 447 (1984).

Judge Murphy’s litigation practice concluded in 1984, when he was appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

He has taught Evidence at University of Baltimore School of Law since 1974, and Trial Practice at the University of Maryland School Of Law since 1981. He is the author of the Maryland Evidence Handbook, the fourth edition of which was published in 2010.