2016 -- S 2893

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LC005654

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE FRANCIS J. MURRAY ON THE OCCASION OF

HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE RHODE ISLAND FAMILY COURT

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Archambault, Satchell, Walaska, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2016

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Francis J. Murray, an Associate Justice of the Rhode Island

Family Court and a highly respected adjudicator, officially retired on December 31st of 2014;

however, due to understaffing, he diligently remained on the bench until April of 2016; and

     WHEREAS, Laying the foundation for his eminent career, Judge Murray earned a

Bachelor's degree from the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, a Master of Arts from

Marquette University, and a Juris Doctorate from Franklin Pierce Law Center, now a part of the

University of New Hampshire; and

     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from law school, Judge Murray was admitted to the

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and United States District Court, District of Rhode Island bars. He

subsequently entered private practice in the law firm of Murray & Cutcliffe, where he specialized

in family law. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he served as assistant legal counsel to Governor

J. Joseph Garrahy; and

     WHEREAS, In 1994, Judge Murray was appointed to the Rhode Island Family Court by

Governor Bruce Sundlun. He has served in a myriad of capacities including assignment to the

Juvenile Drug Court Calendar, and over the past three years, he has presided over Family Court

matters in Newport County; and

     WHEREAS, Justice Murray has been married to his wife Kathleen for thirty-one years,

and together they have three adult children; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Murray possesses a keen mind and an innate ability to adjudicate

matters in a just and timely manner. He will forever be remembered as a humble and widely-

admired Justice, who presided with compassion and fairness, and served the people of our state

with integrity and excellence; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby expresses our sincere gratitude to the Honorable Francis J. Murray for more than twenty

years of distinguished service presiding over matters before the Rhode Island Family Court. We

furthermore wish him good health and happiness during his retirement years; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Francis J. Murray.

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