Frank Murphy

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Frank Murphy – Life, Career, and Notable Contributions

Explore the life of Frank Murphy (1890–1949), American politician, attorney general, governor, and U.S. Supreme Court justice. Understand his journey, landmark rulings, convictions on civil rights, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Frank Murphy (full name William Francis Murphy) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served in a remarkable number of high offices: Mayor of Detroit, Governor-General of the Philippines, Governor of Michigan, U.S. Attorney General, and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Murphy is widely remembered for his robust defense of individual liberties, his dissent in Korematsu v. United States, and his advocacy for social justice in the New Deal era.

Early Life and Education

William Francis “Frank” Murphy was born on April 13, 1890 in Harbor Beach, Michigan, located in Michigan’s “Thumb” region.

Murphy was educated at the University of Michigan, earning an A.B. in 1912 and an LL.B. from its Law School in 1914.

After practicing law for a few years, Murphy also pursued further legal studies abroad, attending Trinity College, Dublin and Lincoln’s Inn in London during or after his service in World War I.

During World War I, Murphy served as an officer in the U.S. Army from 1917 to 1919.

Early Career & Rise in Public Service

Federal and Local Legal Roles

Following the war, Murphy became Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan (1919–1922).

In 1923, he was elected as a judge to the Detroit Recorder’s Court (a criminal court), serving until 1930. Ossian Sweet case (1925–1926), involving a Black doctor and his defense of his home against a white mob attack. Murphy’s rulings and jury instructions have been praised for their fairness in a racially charged context.

Mayor of Detroit (1930–1933)

In 1930, Murphy was elected Mayor of Detroit, serving during the early years of the Great Depression.

In 1932, Murphy helped found and served as the first President of the United States Conference of Mayors.

Governor-General and High Commissioner of the Philippines (1933–1936)

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Murphy Governor-General of the Philippine Islands. High Commissioner under the Commonwealth framework, a role Murphy held until 1936.

Governor of Michigan (1937–1938)

Returning to Michigan, Murphy won election as the 35th Governor of Michigan, serving from January 1, 1937 to January 1, 1939.

His governorship coincided with major labor unrest, notably the Flint sit-down strike by the United Auto Workers. Murphy refused to use the National Guard to suppress the laborers, instead mediating a resolution and thereby boosting legitimacy for union recognition by GM.

He also pushed through progressive reforms: unemployment compensation, expanded public health services, state budgeting systems, consumer protections, and civil service reform.

However, in 1938, Murphy was defeated in his reelection bid by his predecessor, Frank Fitzgerald.

U.S. Attorney General (1939–1940)

In 1939, Roosevelt appointed Murphy as the 56th U.S. Attorney General. Civil Liberties Unit in the Department of Justice to consolidate enforcement of First Amendment and civil rights protections.

He also used his office to target corruption and municipal crime bosses.

Supreme Court Tenure (1940–1949)

Appointment & Judicial Philosophy

In January 1940, President Roosevelt nominated Murphy to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice Pierce Butler.

Murphy was known for his expansive view of individual rights and skepticism of excessive government power. His style was empathetic, morally driven, and sometimes criticized by colleagues (e.g., Justice Felix Frankfurter called him “the Saint”) for being more emotional than tightly legalistic.

He authored over 199 opinions during his tenure (131 majority, 68 dissents).

Landmark Opinions & Dissents

• SEC v. W. J. Howey Co. (1946): Murphy wrote the majority opinion, defining the concept of “investment contracts” under the Securities Act — a foundational precedent in U.S. securities law.

• Korematsu v. United States (1944): In his powerful dissent, Murphy condemned Japanese-American internment during WWII as a “legalization of racism.” This was among the first times the term “racism” appeared in a Supreme Court opinion.

• Wolf v. Colorado (1949): Murphy dissented when the Court held that illegally obtained evidence could be admissible in state courts. His stance was later vindicated when Mapp v. Ohio (1961) overruled Wolf.

During recesses in 1942, Murphy served in the Army Reserve and as executive officer to General George Marshall at the War Department.

Personality, Values & Challenges

Murphy was devoutly Catholic and from early in his career identified with working-class and poor citizens, striving to be a “justice of the common man.”

His critics sometimes derided him for emotionalism or perceived lack of jurisprudential rigor, but many respected his integrity, courage, and moral clarity.

Murphy remained unmarried and had no children. There have been historical speculations about his personal life, friendships, and relationships, though definitive evidence is limited.

In his later years, Murphy’s health declined; he died of a coronary thrombosis on July 19, 1949, in Detroit.

Legacy & Influence

Frank Murphy’s legacy is multifaceted:

• He is remembered as a bridge between politics and jurisprudence: someone who held high executive office and then served on the Supreme Court.

• His dissent in Korematsu has come to be celebrated as a prescient defense of civil liberties under duress and a moral repudiation of governmental overreach.

• His jurisprudence influenced later expansion of rights — notably in incorporation of civil liberties against the states and in shaping the civil rights movement.

• In Michigan, his name endures: the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit, named in his honor, houses courts and legal offices.

• His papers and legacy are preserved in archives at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library, and his home in Harbor Beach is partially preserved as a museum.

Lessons & Reflections

1. Moral courage matters. Murphy often took stances unpopular or risky (e.g., labor rights, dissenting opinions).

2. Law must protect the vulnerable. His legal philosophy emphasized that formal legalism should yield when justice demands protecting marginalized individuals.

3. Public service can span roles. Murphy’s career shows how service in local, territorial, executive, and judicial roles can be interconnected.

4. Dissent can outlast majority. His opinions — especially Korematsu dissent — gained stature over time even if initially overruled or ignored.

5. Legacy beyond career. Institutions, memory, and the strength of convictions can outlive a lifetime.