Judge Robert Murphy
Candidate for Oklahoma State Senate, District 21
Enrolled Member of Cherokee Nation

Judge Robert Murphy won his primary, but was unsuccessful in his bid for the state senate.

Judge Robert Murphy is running for Oklahoma State Senate District 21. Judge Murphy is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He brings great experience as a judge in Payne County's judicial system.

Bob is a graduate of Stillwater High School, Oklahoma State University (B.A. in Political Science) and the University of Oklahoma (J.D.). Also, Judge Murphy has attended Harvard Law School's Program of Instruction for Lawyers and the National Judicial College.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Murphy worked as a VISTA Volunteer with Washoe Legal Services in Reno, Nevada, where he also met his wife, Christina Nordman, who was also working as a VISTA Volunteer with Nevada Catholic Welfare in Las Vegas.

Judge Murphy returned to Stillwater and began practicing law with his father in the firm of Murphy & Murphy. After 17 years of private practice the governor appointed him as Associate District Judge of Payne County in May of 1994. During times of election, Judge Murphy received the voters approval by winning twice with opposition and twice without opposition.

His community involvement in Stillwater includes numerous organizations. Murphy has served as past president of the Payne County Bar Assocaition, Stillwater Rotary Club, Sangre Ridge Parent Teacher Association, Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma, Phi Gamma Delta Board of Chapter Advisors, and Vice President of the Title VII Indian Parent Committee. Moreover, he is a member of the American and Oklahoma Bar Associations, and is a church school teacher and youth group sponsor as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church.

Judge Murphy and his wife Chris of 30 years have four children. He is the son of the late Robert M. Murphy, former state senator, and Shirley (Peggy) Love Murphy. Judge Murphy, his daughter, Anna, his father, grandfather and great grandmother are enrolled members of the Cherokee Nation while his children Eric and Alyce, his mother, grandfather and great grandmother are enrolled members of the Chickasaw Nation.

State of the race:

Oklahoma State Senate District 21 proves to be a very competitive race because the Senate seat will be vacated by State Senator Mike Morgan at the end of the term. Judge Murphy will have opposition in the upcoming July 29th primary against fellow democratic nominee Greg Wilson. Afterwards, the candidate will face Republican Jim Halligan. Murphy has gained endorsements from current, and outgoing, State Senator Mike Morgan and former Oklahoma State University Basketball Coach, Eddie Sutton.