Is Murphy On Judicial Fast Track? Superior Court Judge Chosen To Officiate At Atlanta Summer Olympics
One of Spokane County’s black-robed referees is on his way to the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Taking a break from drug dealers, bank robbers and the like, Superior Court Judge James Murphy will spend his summer vacation adjudicating the world’s elite athletes.
Murphy will officiate track and field for 20 days, beginning with the June 12 Olympic trials and picking up again for the real thing July 22.
More than 2,500 people applied for 210 positions in track and field. His nine years’ experience officiating local and national meets and prior Olympic trials probably helped him make the cut.
“I’m honored,” His Honor said Tuesday.
The judge also was named a “clerk of the course.” He’ll organize all of the track heats and field competitions, and make sure the athletes know when they’re up.
While the job is stressful, it is also the most fun, said Murphy, 53.
“That’s the job where you really get to meet all the athletes face-to-face,” he said. “It’s very exciting.”
Murphy high-jumped and ran hurdles for Shadle Park High School, but ended his track career as a freshman at Washington State University.
He got hooked on officiating in 1987, when he watched one of his sons compete at a national track meet at Brigham Young University. There was a shortage of officials, and Murphy offered to fill in.
“I realized then I enjoyed the view from the field much more than from the stands,” Murphy said. He’s avoided bleachers ever since.
At the Olympics, Murphy will be joined by his wife, Jill, and court bailiff Chuck Naccarato. Unsure whether he’d be chosen as an official, Murphy bought two tickets to the Games “just in case.”
But since he’s an official, Murphy’s admission, along with housing and some meals, is covered. That left Naccarato with the extra ticket - a VIP seat at that, the bailiff bragged.
“Do you want to go?” Naccarato teased. “It’ll cost you $10,000. I bet I could get that for it, you know.”
, DataTimes