News
September 29, 2016Attorneys Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers
Michael J. Murphy, Esq. and James E. Hacker, Esq. have become Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America.
The induction ceremony at which Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hacker became Fellows took place recently before an audience of approximately 800 persons during the recent 2016 Annual Meeting of the College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.
Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5800 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on important legal issues relating to its mission. The College strongly supports the independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings.
The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.
Michael J. Murphy is a managing director at Carter Conboy in Albany and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He has been practicing law for 34 years. The newly inducted Fellow is an alumna of Albany Law School of Union University. He practices complex litigation with an emphasis on labor and employment law, civil rights and governmental law, and municipal law. Mr. Murphy holds an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale Hubbell, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Capital District YMCA and a member of ALFA International Labor & Employment Practice Group steering committee. He is past President of the Federal Court Bar Association for the Northern District of New York and past Chair of ALFA International.
James E. Hacker is a managing partner at E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, LLP in Troy, Albany and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He has been practicing law for 32 years. The newly inducted Fellow attended Hamilton College and Albany Law School of Union University. He is the Vice Chairman of the Albany Law School Board of Trustees and is the President Elect of the Albany County Bar Association. He is Regional Vice President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Academy and is a past President of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Hacker devotes his practice entirely to civil litigation.