Joe Murray

Joe Murray is many things depending on the person who is asked. Though a lawyer by trade, Joe has transformed his Juris doctor into a skeleton key that has opened many doors. A trial lawyer, a journalist, a political commentator, and a civil rights activist are a few of the hats worn by Joe over the years. But after practicing law and playing politics for over a decade, Joe has decided to put on a “hat” that he has wanted to wear for a long time – author.  

Joe’s first book, “Odd Man Out,” is witty autobiography that seeks to explain the many contradictions that define who he is. Conservative to the core, Joe’s personal life has caused many to question his ideological convictions. In writing “Odd Man Out,” Joe is hoping to explain that a person should not be a slave to his identity, but a master of ideas. The book already has earned praise from those on the Right and the Left. Joe is currently working on his second book and will tackle the issue of education reform. It will be published Winter 2022.

Born in 1977 during the malaise of the Carter administration, Joe grew up a child of the Eighties. He was extremely close to his family and his childhood was stereotypical of the values that defined the Eighties – success, wealth, and opportunity. It was a solid familial core and a belief that the sky was the limit that shaped Joe’s worldview.

Joe loved his work as a lawyer because he loves to fight for the underdog, a trait he has carried over to his career in education. After graduating from Hofstra University School of Law in 2002, Joe started a legal career in which he fought for the downtrodden. His primary focus was constitutional law / civil rights and Joe jumped at the chance to take a case where the odds are stacked against a deserving litigant. He has litigated cases in courtrooms across the nation and has argued at some of the highest courts of the land. He has traded in the courtroom for the classroom and is loving every minute of it. 

In addition to the law and education, Joe has long been a student of politics. Ever since he was glued to the television during the Reagan/Mondale debates, Joe has had an addiction to politics. He has worked for politicians on the local and state level, but his dream came true when he worked with Patrick J. Buchanan during his 1999 bid for the GOP nomination. Such an adventure was a milestone event for Joe.

Joe’s professional resume has all the markings of a modern day Barry Goldwater. From working with Buchanan to the American Family Association to the Alliance Defense Fund (now Alliance Defending Freedom), Joe has worked alongside many of today’s leading conservatives. When Joe left the law to work for the Philadelphia Bulletin, he continued to build on his conservative credentials as he wrote political columns with a conservative worldview.

To this day, Joe’s political OP/EDs are featured in newspapers across the nation, but Joe has removed the shackles of ideology that once constrained him in order to more thoughtfully address the issues that are dividing the nation. Ranging from issues of gay rights to employment discrimination, Joe uses his columns to educate his readers and to spark dialogue. Joe is not limited to just print media, as he is a contributor to KFAX AM radio and joins “Lifeline” every Friday evening. Mr. Murray also served as a political insider for Fox 13 Memphis and often debated the pressing issues of the day. He has appeared on the “O’Reilly Factor” and has been interviewed by newspapers across the globe.

A successful trial attorney, civil rights litigator, educator, and public policy expert working out of Oakland, Tennessee, Joe is now hoping to use the same energy and determination that made him a success in those fields to produce thought provoking books and commentaries. It is Joe’s hope to challenge people to think outside the box and unchain them from the preconceived notions forced upon them by their identities. Joe wants to reintroduce critical thinking into the marketplace of ideas, along with the idea that it is possible for people to disagree and share a beer. He hopes he can use his knowledge and experience to help you!

Joe with Mearl Purvis and Connie Terry on the set of Fox 13 Memphis

Joe with Darrell Greene and Connie Terry on the set of Fox 13 Memphis

Joe with Sir Tom Jones

Joe with Pat Buchanan