By FRED SWIFT
Darren Murphy this week became the first candidate to announce for judge of the new Hamilton Superior Court 7. He is currently a magistrate for the county courts, a post he has held since 2017.
Murphy will run in the Republican primary in May of 2022, and if elected, he will take office the following January as judge of the county’s newest court, created this year by the Indiana General Assembly.
The candidate is married and the father of four children. The family lives in the Fishers area. Murphy was in private law practice in Noblesville for 12 years prior to being named magistrate.
He is veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers and saw action in the 1990 American mission to Panama in which dictator Manuel Noriega was removed from power. Murphy was wounded in the hostilities and received the Purple Heart for his service.
After military service, Murphy earned a law degree and started his practice with longtime local attorney Michael Howard.
Hamilton County judges and county officials asked for the new, additional court due to the increasing caseload in the local court system. The county has its original Circuit Court and currently six superior courts.
Judges are elected countywide, and serve six-year terms. With no incumbent for the new court, other candidates could be expected to enter the GOP primary race set for May 5.