Murphy Returns Questioned Donation

By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ Senate hopeful Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater on Monday returned a $650 donation after learning that it came from a member of the panel that helps select judges.

[And after Republican Senator Clark Jolley made the donation public.]

Murphy, a Democrat, applied for the Payne County associate district judgeship that he had resigned in June to run for the Senate District 21 seat. That post is being vacated by Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, because of term limits. Murphy applied July 31. The deadline was Aug. 1.

On July 14, Murphy's campaign received a $650 donation from Norman attorney Jim Loftis, who serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission. The panel reviews applications for judicial posts and forwards three nominees to the governor, who makes an appointment. Loftis said he learned after making the donation that Murphy applied for the judicial position.

The commission has 13 members, but one post is vacant, Loftis said. Loftis said he will not take part in the process of filling a the judicial position because of the donation.

"I don't think this put me in a bad position," he said. "It is probably the wisest decision to allow the 11 other members to conclude the interview process and make a recommendation to the governor."

Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan, a Republican, on the Nov. 4 Senate ballot.

Murphy said that upon learning of the donation, he ordered his campaign to refund it. "I have not spoken to Mr. Loftis regarding this situation and wish to extend my apology to him," he said. "The donation was made and accepted prior to my decision to apply for the judicial position."

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