William Daniel Murray Explained

William Daniel Murray
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
Term Start:December 31, 1965
Term End:October 3, 1994
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
Term Start1:1957
Term End1:1965
Predecessor1:Charles Nelson Pray
Successor1:William James Jameson
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
Term Start2:May 9, 1949
Term End2:December 31, 1965
Appointer2:Harry S. Truman
Predecessor2:Robert Lewis Brown Sr.
Successor2:Russell Evans Smith
Birth Name:William Daniel Murray
Birth Date:20 November 1908
Birth Place:Butte, Montana
Death Place:Butte, Montana
Education:Columbia University
Georgetown University (B.S.)
Alexander Blewett III School of Law (LL.B.)

William Daniel Murray (November 20, 1908 – October 3, 1994) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Education and career

Born in Butte, Montana, Murray attended Columbia University, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in 1932, and a Bachelor of Laws from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana in 1936. He was a United States Naval Reserve Lieutenant during World War II from 1942 to 1945, and was otherwise in private practice in Butte between 1936 and 1949, and an Assistant United States Attorney of the District of Montana from 1938 to 1942.

Federal judicial service

On April 5, 1949, Murray was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Montana vacated by Judge Robert Lewis Brown Sr. Murray was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 4, 1949, and received his commission on May 9, 1949. He served as Chief Judge from 1957 to 1965, assuming senior status due to a certified disability on December 31, 1965. Murray served in that capacity until his death on October 3, 1994, in Butte.

Family

Murray was the son of United States Senator James E. Murray.

See also