RALEIGH – Campbell Law School alumnus Judge Tom Murry ’07 was formally sworn in as a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals during an investiture ceremony held at the historic North Carolina State Capitol on Thursday, January 16.
Murry won Seat 12 on the Court of Appeals in November 2024.
Murry has said the primary goal of anyone who wants to serve as a judge is to be viewed as fair. He added his experience as a state prosecutor is very important for the work the appellate court does.
The addition of Murry brings the number of Campbell Law alumni serving on the N.C. Court of Appeals to seven of 15, or nearly 50 percent, more than any other law school. The other alumni judges are Judges Jeffery Carpenter ‘03, Allegra Collins ‘06, Tobias (Toby) Hampson ‘02, Michael Stading ‘06, Donna Stroud ‘88 and John Tyson ‘79.
The ceremony for Murry was attended by justices of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, as well as Murry’s family, friends, and colleagues, according to a press release sent out by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC).
Colonel Michael J. McCann presented Murry to the Court, and Chief Judge Chris Dillon of the North Carolina Court of Appeals administered the oath of office. The North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler gave the presentation of commission.
Murry brings a wealth of experience to the Court. He has served as an assistant district attorney and held executive leadership roles within the North Carolina Judicial Branch. During his tenure in the North Carolina General Assembly, Murry served two terms in the House of Representatives, where he co-chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for budgets for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor. As a legislator, Murry was the primary sponsor of voter ID legislation and a regulatory reform bill that eliminated more than 1,400 regulations.
Before his legislative service, he was elected to two terms as an at-large member of the Morrisville Town Council.
In addition to his judicial and legislative experience, Murry is both an attorney and a licensed pharmacist. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy. Murry also serves in the North Carolina National Guard as a Judge Advocate General.
Murry resides in Cary with his wife, Tamara, and their three children.
For more information or to view photos from the investiture ceremony, visit the Judicial Branch Facebook page.
About Campbell Law School
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2024, Campbell Law celebrated 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 15 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.
About North Carolina Judicial Branch
The North Carolina Judicial Branch is an equal and distinctively separate branch and core function of government. More than 7,400 Judicial Branch employees statewide administer justice in courthouses in North Carolina’s 100 counties. The Judicial Branch budget for FY 2022–23 was $712.8M, 87% of which is used to pay salaries and 11.5% is used for operations. The Judicial Branch receives 2.64% of the overall State budget.
About North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) is the administrative agency for the North Carolina Judicial Branch, providing administrative services to help the North Carolina court system operate more efficiently and effectively, taking into account each courthouse’s diverse needs, caseloads, and available resources.