William "Bill" Murphy is a notorious Baltimore lawyer who represented such clients as State Senator Clay Davis.
Biography[]
Season 5[]
When Clay Davis is about to go to trial for money laundering and political corruption, he intends to hire Murphy as an efficient counselor to get him acquitted. Meeting with him at his West Baltimore office, Murphy is displeased with Davis' insistence to pay him a smaller upfront fee than his usual price, but the Senator states that monetary backup from his donors is lesser than in the past as they don't wish to be associated with him while he is being charged with criminal felonies. While Davis offers $25,000 in exchange for his legal representation, Murphy counters that he can't accept the amount not having seen the jury in the case, but Davis confidently tells him that the publicity and notoriety he will gain from winning a case against State's Attorney Rupert Bond will compensate for the lighter payment on his part, promising to give him more money once the case is over. Throughout the trial proceedings, Murphy accompanies Davis and guides him through his legal defense strategy; since the charges concern Davis pocketing the proceeds from his charities and non-profit organizations for himself, Murphy will attempt to paint him as an honest and humble man and go about reframing his documented misdeeds as simple errors in judgement or oversights stemming from trying to help the disenfranchised people in his community.
Murphy first questions the Senator's former driver-turned-state's witness Damien Price and exposes to the jury how Davis offered him a job in spite of his criminal past and Price is repaying him by testifying against him, also forcibly making the witness admit how there is no physical evidence of Davis receiving drug money from him, as Price was only previously arrested with a bag of cash that couldn't be linked back to the Senator. Then, while cross-examining Davis, Murphy gives the impression that even he is unconvinced with his client's defense, pointing out the prosecution's substantial evidence against him. This gives Davis an opening to make an enticing speech about how his only concern was to help the people of his neighborhood and that he will continue to do so despite the state's unjust persecution. Charmed by the duplicitous Senator, the jury acquits Davis of all charges and he and Murphy walk out of the courtroom victorious supported by their many devoted followers. ("Took")
Personality[]
Murphy was a successful and highly sought after attorney, probably as a result of his courtroom expertise and cunning as a public defender. Though extremely well-versed in legal practice, he possessed several shady traits that could even invite comparison with some of the series' criminal figures; his demand for a five figure money payment before having even worked on a case showcases his greediness and his affiliation and partnership with the double-crossing Clay Davis implies a level of corruption he was comfortable navigating.
Production[]
Appearances[]
| Season 5 | ||||
| "More with Less" | "Unconfirmed Reports" | "Not for Attribution" | "Transitions" | "React Quotes" |
| "The Dickensian Aspect" | "Took" | "Clarifications" | "Late Editions" | "-30-" |
Notes[]
- Murphy's character is portrayed by the real-life Billy Murphy Jr., a famous former Baltimore City judge and current lawyer, as well as the son of Judge William Murphy Sr. In his appearance on The Wire, Murphy states "I already got more rep than any lawyer would ever need" in reference to his high profile in Baltimore's legal defense sphere.