ELISA MURPHY

Elisa Murphy brings more than 32 years of legal experience to Dekalb County.  Former Judge Elisa Murphy was the first Black female to become Judge in Hamilton County Municipal Court, District 2, Hamilton County, Ohio.  Judge Murphy previously served as a magistrate for the Hamilton County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division and Franklin County, Ohio Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch. In Ohio, the Common Pleas Courts are equivalent to the Superior Courts in Georgia. Judge Murphy served on the bench for more than 17 years.

In addition to her judicial service, she served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University where she taught Ethics and Business Law. Judge Elisa Murphy also served as an attorney in the Elections Division for the Ohio Secretary of State. Her legal career includes private practice and service with the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office. Former Judge Murphy’s primary areas of law include legal ethics, juvenile law, criminal law, and elections law. Before taking the bench, she also served as an attorney child advocate (guardian ad litem) representing  abused, neglected, and dependent children and other guardian ad litems. Overall, Judge Murphy has practiced law for more than 32 years.  Additionally, she worked as a law clerk to a judge in Summit County Municipal Court.

Former Judge Murphy worked her way through both undergraduate school and law school. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Akron School of Law in Ohio. She is licensed to practice law in both Georgia and Ohio.

Last, but not least, former Judge Elisa Murphy is a proud mother of two successful adult children and a grand mommy to one grandchild.