Michael R. Murphy (born August 6, 1947) is a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Early life and education Murphy was born in Denver, Colorado in 1947. His family later moved to a small town in Wyoming. In 1955, he began playing little league baseball and discovered his lifelong hero, Roberto Clemente. At 13, his mother sent him to a boarding school in Kansas so he could get a good education. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University in 1969. In 1972, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law. He graduated with honors and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Legal career After law school, he clerked for Judge David T. Lewis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 1972-73. Upon completion of his clerkship, he entered private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah with Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough. Six months into his job, he was arguing a 10-week antitrust case, which resulted in a favorable jury verdict. Murphy stayed with the firm from 1973-85. In 1986, he was appointed to a judgeship of the Third District Court of Utah. Judicial career In 1986, Governor Norman Bangerter appointed him a judge of the Third District Court of Utah. In 1990, he became the presiding judge of that court, where he remained until his appointment to the Tenth Circuit in 1995. During his tenure in the Third District Court of Utah, Murphy helped to build a court complex adjacent to the Salt Lake City/County Building. He served on the Utah Judicial Council Task Force on Alternative Dispute Resolution and chaired the Judicial Oversight Committee in Child Support Guidelines in 1988 as well as chairing the State Advisory Committee on Child Support Guidelines. Additionally, he served on the Utah Sentencing Guidelines Task Force in 1991 and the Utah State Sentencing Commission. On July 25, 1995, Murphy was nominated by President Bill Clinton for a vacancy on the bench for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The seat was vacated by Judge Monroe G. McKay. Murphy was confirmed by the senate on August 11, 1995, and received commission on August 14, 1995. He assumed senior status on December 31, 2012. Awards, committees, commissions, professional associations and memberships Awards Freedom of Information Award, Society