Jeffrie G. Murphy, 79, passed away on September 17, 2020. Jeffrie was Regents Professor of Law, Philosophy and Religious Studies at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. He received his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in 1962; Ph.D. from University of Rochester in 1966, and Postdoctoral N.D.E.A. Fellow from the University of California-Los Angeles School of Law in 1968-69.

Before joining ASU in 1987, Murphy taught philosophy at the University of Arizona, where he was head of the Philosophy Department from 1972–76, and at the University of Minnesota. From 1981–85, he was chair of the Philosophy Department at ASU. He is also a past president of the American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division.

Murphy’s primary teaching and research areas were philosophy of law and jurisprudence, criminal law, ethics and religion, moral philosophy (including moral psychology), philosophy in literature/law and literature, and Immanuel Kant’s moral, political and legal philosophy.

Over Jeffrie’s 50-year career in academia, he was a prolific author with more than a dozen books and nearly 100 articles in law and philosophy. His appointment as a Regents Professor at ASU — the highest academic honor the university can bestow — his election as President of the American Philosophical Association in 2005, and his invited lectures at Cambridge and many others are tremendous signals of the admiration in which he was held by so many.

Jeffrie is survived by his wife, Ellen. Following his last wishes, ASU will not be holding any memorial or service nor will ASU be seeking to provide a final lasting and appropriate reminder of his impact at ASU Law. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society (Source: ASU News)