Island Girl: The Life of Justice Florence Kerins Murray; Patriot, Public Servant, Esteemed Jurist

Marian Mathison Desrosiers

In her youth Florence Kerins Murray (1916–2004) saw the expansion of women’s suffrage rights, a world-wide depression, and war. She served the nation in the Women’s Army Corps and became a respected military officer during World War II. After the war Murray ran for the school committee and the state senate; in those positions she demonstrated her energy and abilities, as she did in her next jobs as Rhode Island trial court judge and supreme court judge. For more than forty years she made decisions on constitutional rights of citizens of Rhode Island and provided leadership in jurist organizations at the national level.

Justice Florence Kerins Murray left her mark on programs for veterans, the institution of the Family Court, and state activities such as music festivals, Fort Adams, and scholarships. As a jurist she influenced legal and judicial education and the humanities. Through her selection of law clerks, she encouraged women to seek judgeships. In 1990 the state of Rhode Island renamed the Newport courthouse The Murray Judicial Complex to honor Justice Murray as “Patriot, Public Servant, Distinguished Jurist, and Champion of the Rights and Progress of Women.”

“Justice Murray knocked down many doors, but before she marched through, she looked back to see that we were coming in with her and found ways to get us there.”

— Maureen McKenna Goldberg, Associate Justice of RI Supreme Court

“Florence was genuine, a multi-dimensional person who allowed her background to be a part of her decisions and views, whether it was the military, motherhood, wife, or lawyer.”

— Mary M. Lisi, Chief Judge of U.S. District Court for RI

“She inspired four generations of Rhode Island’s most powerful women in public service, law, and business.”

— Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of RI Supreme Court