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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Brian Edward Murphy to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Born in Columbia, MD, Mr. Murphy earned his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in 2002 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2006.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Murphy joined the Committee for Public Counsel Services as a public defender in the district court division in 2006. He later served the office as a public defender in the superior court division between 2007 and 2009.

Following his time in public service, Mr. Murphy worked as an associate attorney at Todd and Weld LLP from 2009 to 2011. There, his practice centered exclusively on criminal defense work in State and Federal courts. In 2011, Mr. Murphy opened his own practice known today as Murphy & Rudolph LLP. His practice centers on criminal defense, civil, and probate work. He also provides representation to indigent defendants through Criminal Justice Act appointments.

Throughout his career, Mr. Murphy has tried 41 cases to verdict as either sole or chief counsel. Additionally, he has briefed 14 cases in the appeals courts and presented oral argument in seven of those matters.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Murphy as ``well qualified,'' and he has the strong support of his home State Senators, Ms. Warren and Mr. Markey.

The extensive litigation experience Mr. Murphy gained while serving as a public defender and as a criminal defense attorney in private practice has equipped him with the requisite skillset to join the Federal bench in Massachusetts.

I am proud to support his nomination.

Mr. MARKEY, Mr. President, I rise in support of the nomination of Brian Murphy to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Brian Murphy started his legal career as a public defender in Worcester, MA. In that role, he stood on the frontline in the fight for justice. He devoted his practice of law to ensuring that those who could not afford a lawyer--people whose very lives and liberties were at stake--received the legal representation and defense that our Constitution guarantees. In that role, Mr. Murphy gained critical courtroom and trial experience and perspective on how our system of justice operates and impacts the lives of those involved in it.

After serving as a public defender, Mr. Murphy continued to represent criminal defendants in private practice, eventually starting his own law firm, where he also gained valuable experience on the civil side of the docket.

Mr. Murphy has also held leadership positions in the criminal defense and local bars. He has served as president of the Massachusetts chapter of the Federal Bar Association and served on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. And he has served as a supervisor for the Bar Advocates of Worcester County, a private nonprofit providing legal representation to indigent clients charged with crimes.

Brian Murphy has an impressive academic background, as well. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Worcester's own College of the Holy Cross.

In law school, he showed academic prowess and an early passion for justice, serving as editor-in-chief of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review.

Having lived and worked in Massachusetts throughout his entire legal career, Brian Murphy understands our State and the importance we place on ensuring justice for all.

It is therefore not surprising that Mr. Murphy has received strong support from the Massachusetts legal community. A group of former assistant U.S. attorneys in Massachusetts--his courtroom opponents-- wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee that they ``unreservedly'' supported his nomination. They described him as thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate and committed to justice, his clients, and the court system.

I agree with his former colleagues who told the Judiciary Committee that Brian Murphy's educational background, life experience, and temperament qualify him to be an outstanding Federal district judge.

Senator Warren--who has been an outstanding partner on Massachusetts judicial nominations--and I are proud to have recommended Brian Murphy's nomination to President Biden. Brian Murphy's confirmation will add to President Biden's legacy of placing on our courts only well-qualified jurists from diverse professional backgrounds, who are committed to justice for all.

I urge my colleagues to vote yea on Brian Murphy's confirmation.

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