Christopher J. Murphy Attorney at Law
Mr. Murphy was raised in Summerville by his parents, the late Patrick J. Murphy, USN (retired) who served as a Dorchester County Magistrate and was an active member of the Dorchester County Republican party and the late Barbara A. Murphy, a former neonatal intensive care nurse at MUSC.
He is a product of Dorchester District 2 schools and graduated from Summerville High School in 1986. Following high school, he enrolled at The Citadel, graduating with a BA degree in 1990. He also received an Honorable Discharge from the South Carolina Army National Guard that same year. In 1995, he received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree from Mississippi College School of Law and upon graduation moved back to South Carolina where he began his legal career as a prosecutor with the First Judicial Circuit. While at the Solicitor’s office, he served as Senior Assistant Solicitor under Solicitor Walter M. Bailey, Jr. where he prosecuted serious felony cases and obtained hundreds of convictions for offenses including Murder, Assault and Battery with the Intent to Kill, Criminal Sexual Conduct, Armed Robbery and Drug Trafficking. During his time as an assistant solicitor, he was also appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney assigned to a Multi-County Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
Mr. Murphy is past Chairman of Dorchester County Council and served District 2 from January 6, 2003 until his election to the SC House of Representatives on November 8, 2010. Mr. Murphy is a founding member of the Summerville Miracle League and is active in the Summerville Rotary Club, as well as being a sustaining member of the Coastal Community Foundation-Dorchester County Fund. He has served as President of the Summerville Citadel Club. He is an avid volunteer for children’s sports teams in the area and has served as coach and sponsor for the YMCA, Parks Field and Sertoma teams throughout the years.
He is married to the Honorable Maité Murphy who serves as a Circuit Court Judge. He and his wife reside in North Charleston with their two sons, Austin and Jackson.
Licensed:
Experience:
Community Involvement/Awards:
- Licensed to Practice South Carolina
- United States District Court
Education:
- The Citadel: B.A. in Political Science, 1990
- Mississippi School of Law: J.D., 1995
- 2024-Present: Owner, Partner Murphy Crantford Meehan
- 2007-2023: Owner, Murphy Law Firm, LLC
- 2001-2007: Partner, Quattlebaum & Murphy, LLP
- 1998-2001: Former Senior Assistant Solicitor, First Judicial Circuit, Former Special Assistant United States Attorney, Multi-Jurisdictional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force
- 1996-1998: Former Assistant Solicitor, First Judicial Circuit
- Member, SC House of Representatives – District 98, 2010-present
- Member, Dorchester County Council, 2003-2010
- Former Chairman Dorchester County Council, 2005-06
- Summerville Rotary Club
- Sustaining Member, Coastal Community Foundation-Dorchester County Fund
- Summerville Citadel Club, Former President, 2005-Present
- John Tupper Award winner, Summerville Junior Service League, 2014
Awards and Recognitions:
Business Advocate Award, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, 2011
Peas and Carrots Legislative Award, Citizens for Sound Conservation, 2012
Men to Watch, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2013
John Tupper Award winner, Summerville Junior Service League, 2014
Favorite Attorney, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2017
Favorite Local Politician, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2017
Best Attorney, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2018
Best Attorney, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2019
Best Local Politician, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2019
Bert Cicenia Award, Children In Crisis in Dorchester County, Inc., 2022
Outstanding Service Award, The Citadel Republican Society, 2023
Legislator of the Year, Dorchester County Republican Party, 2023
Best Criminal Attorney, Summerville Journal Scene Readers Choice, 2024
Public Service:
Dorchester County Council, Member, 2003-2010, Chairman 2005-06
SC House of Representatives, District 98, Member, 2010-present
SC House Agriculture Committee, 2010-2014, Chair Environmental Subcommittee 2012-2014
SC House Judiciary Committee, 2014-2022, Chairman, 2020-2022
SC Ways and Means Committee 2023-present, Chair Constitutional Budget Subcommittee
State Transportation Infrastructure Bank, Member, 2023-present
South Carolina Ports Authority Review and Oversight Commission, Member, 2017-present
Legislative Audit Council, SC House of Representatives, Member, 2022
Community Involvement:
Summerville Citadel Club, Member, 2005-Present, President 2005
Summerville Miracle League, Founding Board Member
Coastal Community Foundation-Dorchester County Fund, Sustaining Member
Murphy Crantford Meehan Attorney Profiles
Well-Respected