First woman appointed as Howard deputy state’s attorney

“I’m very pleased and excited to be able to serve the office in this new position,” said Murphy, 43, who was appointed by Howard State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.

Murphy succeeds Broccolino, who was promoted when Timothy McCrone was appointed as a Howard Circuit judge in December.

“I look forward to the new challenges ... and I’ll certainly follow Mr. Broccolino’s lead on any initiatives that he would like to put into effect,” Murphy said.

Murphy is the first female deputy prosecutor in Howard, though Marna McClendon served two terms as the first female state’s attorney beginning in 1994, said state’s attorney spokesman Wayne Kirwan.

“I think for a woman attorney, it’s a big thing to set any type of precedent,” said Janet Eveleth, spokeswoman for the Maryland State Bar Association, who called Murphy “an inspiration” to young women in law school.

“Women, for so long, have been trying to progress in the profession, and it’s good to see many of them are making strides,” she said.

Murphy joined the State’s Attorney’s Office in 1991 and has supervised a felony prosecution team of four attorneys and an investigator since 1997, Kirwan said.

She has been praised for prosecuting a wide range of cases including homicide, child abuse, narcotics and property crimes.

“Mary Murphy is a superb prosecutor whose impressive prosecution record in high-profile cases, combined with her knowledge of the law and criminal procedures, will enhance the mission and operations of the State’s Attorney’s Office,” Broccolino said in a statement.

Before joining the office, Murphy was a litigation associate in the Baltimore City law firm of Weinberg and Green.

She is vice president of the Bar Foundation for Howard County, secretary of the Litigation Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and director of the Howard County Bar Association.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com