Michael D. Murphy
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Michael Murphy is a United States Air Force colonel and is former commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency. One of the top lawyers in the Air Force, Murphy was relieved of his command on November 30, 2006 after Air Force officials discovered that he had been disbarred over 20 years earlier and did not have a law license.[1]
Air Force Times reported that Murphy was disbarred in Texas[2] in 1984 and Louisiana in 1985. Murphy apparently never informed his commanders that he was disbarred, despite Air Force rules requiring such disclosure.
Murphy had previously served as general counsel to the White House Military Office under President George W. Bush from December 2001 to January 2003 and again from August 2003 to January 2005. Murphy had also served as commandant of the Air Force Judge Advocate General School from January to June 2005. Most recently, Murphy had been considered for promotion to Brigadier General in connection with his assignment to command the Air Force Legal Operations Agency.
Air Force Times reported that Murphy failed to file an appeal on time for a client convicted of burglary in 1981. As a result, Texas sued Murphy in 1982 accusing him of professional misconduct. Texas then suspended Murphy’s law license for seven years. In January 1983 Murphy applied to be admitted to the Louisiana bar, stating under oath that he had never been sued nor been the subject of a disciplinary action. Both Texas and Louisiana then permanently disbarred Murphy for lying on his Louisiana bar application, Texas doing so in May 1984 and Louisiana in September 1985. Murphy joined the Air Force after being suspended by Texas but before being disbarred by either state.
On 29 May 2007, court-martial charges were preferred against Colonel Murphy. The charges are for: absence without leave; failure to obey order/dereliction of duty; false official statement; larceny; and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Articles 86, 92, 107, 121, and 133, respectively. The charges were forwarded to Major General Smolen for disposition. [1]
On April 14, 2008, Colonel Murphy will be arraigned. If convicted of all charges, Murphy could face up to 41 years in prison. [2]
Murphy is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.
[edit] References
- ^ Holmes, Erik (2006). Senior Air Force JAG relieved of command. Air Force Times. Retrieved on December 08, 2006.
- ^ Texas State Bar Member Record for Michael D. Murphy. Texas State Bar Association (2006). Retrieved on December 08, 2006.
