Alfred Paul Murrah (October 27, 1904 – October 30, 1975) was aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
Born on October 27, 1904, inTishomingo,Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Murrah received aBachelor of Laws in 1928 from theUniversity of Oklahoma College of Law. He entered private practice inOklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1928 to 1929, then continued his practice inSeminole, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City from 1929 to 1937.[1]
Murrah was nominated by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt on February 8, 1937, to theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, to a new joint seat authorized by 49 Stat. 1804. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on February 25, 1937, and received his commission on March 3, 1937. His service terminated on September 9, 1940, due to his elevation to the Tenth Circuit.[1]
Murrah was nominated by President Roosevelt on August 5, 1940, to a seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated by JudgeRobert E. Lewis. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 29, 1940, and received his commission on September 4, 1940.[1] He served as Chief Judge and as a member of theJudicial Conference of the United States from August 7, 1959 to May 1, 1970.[2][3] He served as the Chair of theJudicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation from 1968 to 1975. He assumedsenior status on May 1, 1970. He was the last appeals court judge who continued to serve in active service appointed by President Roosevelt. He served as Director of theFederal Judicial Center from 1970 to 1974. His service terminated on October 30, 1975, due to his death in Oklahoma City.[1]
Murrah was the namesake of theAlfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a federal office complex which was destroyed in theOklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.[4]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by Seat established by 49 Stat. 1804 | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma 1937–1940 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 1940–1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 1959–1970 | Succeeded by |
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