Harold H. Murchie Explained

Harold H. Murchie
Order1:Member of the Maine House of Representatives
Term Start1:1918
Term End1:1922
Order2:Member of the Maine Senate
Term Start2:1928
Term End2:1934
Order3:Chief Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Term Start3:March 8, 1949
Term End3:March 7, 1953
Birth Date:8 March 1888
Party:Republican
Residence:Calais, Maine
Alma Mater:Dartmouth College
Profession:Attorney

Harold Hale Murchie (March 8, 1888 – March 7, 1953) was an American politician and judge from Maine. Murchie, a Republican from Calais, Maine, served for 10 years in the Maine Legislature, including two terms in the Maine House of Representatives (1918-1922) and three terms in the Maine Senate (1928-1934). He was elected Senate President for his final term in 1933–1934.

He was appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on March 8, 1949, which was Murchie's 61st birthday. He died in office almost exactly 4 years later, on March 7, 1953.[1]

Early life

Murchie was born and raised in Calais and graduated in 1905 from Calais High School.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Dartmouth College, a Bachelor of Laws at Harvard University and a Doctor of Laws at Boston University.[3] Murchie's grand daughter, Jessie Briggs Gunther, was the youngest person to serve as judge in Maine when she was appointed at the age of 28 in 1976. She was also the second woman to enter Maine's judiciary branch.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justices, Chronological List. Maine. 29 July 2014.
  2. Web site: Calais Academy, Calais, Maine, Class of 1905. 29 July 2014.
  3. Web site: HAROLD HALE MURCHIE. Bowdoin College. 29 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140729193110/http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/collections/college-archives-and-records-management/honors/Murchie49.pdf. 29 July 2014. dead.
  4. News: Youngest judge appointed in Maine retires after 32 years on the bench. Harrison. Judy. July 1, 2012. Bangor Daily News. 29 July 2014.