From his 30th-floor law office in downtown Baltimore, William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr. can almost see the neglected neighborhood he grew up in, which is fitting: The nationally acclaimed attorney already keeps Cherry Hill close to his heart.
It was there that Murphy, who is Black, began learning what it took to excel despite the racism he faced, and became passionate about helping others. His father, a lawyer and judge, chose Cherry Hill for that reason, Murphy said.
“He was brilliant enough to understand that it would be better for us to be raised in the poorest Black community in Baltimore,” Murphy said, “where we could see how poverty starts, we can see how low aim starts, we can see how choice suppression starts, we can see its origins, we can see its effect.”
Among the first Black students to attend integrated schools in Baltimore, Murphy said he faced discrimination from students, teachers and advisors. His parents, particularly his mother, insisted he achieve academically — “They expected 100s, don’t bring me 95s,” as he put it — because they saw excellence as the only way to overcome racism.
Racism, Murphy said, “and how my parents raised me to react to it shaped who I am. I can think of nothing that I have done well that is not the product of my parents’ teaching.”
After a brief engineering career, Murphy shifted gears and followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in law. After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law, he clerked for the late Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr. (no relation).
“One of the things Judge Murphy taught me when I clerked for him was, ‘Look, there’s no question you have guts. There are two kinds of guts, dumb guts and smart guts. Make sure you stick to the smart-guts category,’” he recalled.
Murphy represented African Americans being prosecuted for their roles in the Civil Rights Movement. Before long, he was being hired by everyone from groups of Eastern Shore watermen to world-famous boxing promoter Don King. He claims a 91% success rate in criminal trials.
When he got the case of a Black man who in 1976 stormed into a temporary City Hall in Baltimore and opened fire, killing one City Council member and wounding two other officials, Murphy hired students to poll people about the case, he said. Many believed the man was mentally ill. Murphy won a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and the case strengthened his reputation for being able to charm juries.
“I knew the power of persuasion wasn’t enough unless you had the power of understanding the law better than anybody else,” Murphy said.
Murphy was elected Circuit Court judge in 1980. He left the bench three years later to challenge incumbent William Donald Schaefer, focusing his campaign on the idea of there being two Baltimores: one for the wealthy, the other for the poor.
He later shifted his legal practice to civil law, inspired by his time as a judge. From the bench, he watched “average, mediocre” lawyers arguing over lawsuits worth millions of dollars.
He came to recognize he was a more capable trial attorney, though previously, “I was afraid I was not qualified to do it. And that comes from being Black,” Murphy said.
Murphy rose to national renown, securing nine-figure settlements from a credit reporting agency, bank and accounting firm. He also won millions for neighbors whose water was contaminated by coal ash, patients who had heart stents implanted unnecessarily and people who lived in neglected housing.
He also handled police brutality cases, representing the family of Freddie Gray, who died after suffering a spinal injury in Baltimore Police custody.
Murphy still practices today, leading his firm at age 81, and striking a humble tone when he talks about his legacy.
“Just the truth,” he said. “I want people to remember me by what I’ve done and continue to do.”
Baltimore Sun librarian and researcher Paul McCardell contributed to this article.
William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr.
Age: 81
Hometown: Baltimore
Current residence: Baltimore
Education: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Maryland School of Law
Career highlights: Judge, Baltimore Circuit Court; senior and founding partner, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy
Civic and charitable activities: Represented numerous civil rights organizations, including the National Urban League, Greater Baltimore Urban League, NAACP and NAACP Baltimore branch, and Congress of Racial Equality
Family: Partner Teresa Briscoe; four children from a previous marriage; eight grandchildren
