Halligan-Murphy Race Appears Likely

As earlier reported likely to occur here, Payne County Associate District Judge Robert M. Murphy Jr. of Stillwater filed today as a Democratic candidate for the Senate District 21 seat being vacated by Mike Morgan.

Dr. James Halligan, former president of Oklahoma State University, filed earlier for the Republican nomination.

The seat is considered key as Republicans seek to take control of the now split 24-24 Senate in this fall's elections.

Murphy's less-than-stellar record as a judge likely will be a campaign issue; he may face questions about his removal as a judge in the Terry Nichols case.

As The Oklahoman's Nolan Clay reported at the time, "A controversial judge will not be reinstated to the Oklahoma City bombing case. The Oklahoma Supreme Court refused 6-1 Tuesday to even consider whether the judge's ouster was justified. Judge Robert M. Murphy was disqualified in August on ethical grounds. He was to have presided over Terry Nichols' preliminary hearing. The ruling Tuesday was a victory for prosecutors who complained the associate district judge from Payne County was prejudiced against them. Both Nichols and Murphy asked the Supreme Court to overturn the ouster.... Murphy was disqualified for meeting with an Oklahoma City law firm May 19 about doing legal research for him on the bombing case. Prosecutors complained because two attorneys at the firm accused them of misconduct in other murder cases. The decision was made by District Judge Charles L. Goodwin of Clinton, who was appointed to hear prosecutors' complaints. He agreed Murphy violated ethical canons on judicial behavior. Murphy denied wrongdoing and described most of the meeting with the law firm as social. He said his 'good name and reputation' had been damaged."

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