Letter from the Editor-in-Chief, Matthew Andersen:
“Everyday has to be an attempt to say, creatively or otherwise, what can I do to make it better than it was yesterday.” – Dr. John E. Murray
This quote adorned the cover of the spring 2013 edition of Juris. As we mourn the loss of Dr. John E. Murray, and remember the many gifts, lessons and memories he left the Law School with, I think this quote perfectly exemplifies the way Dr. Murray lived his life. Although I only had Dr. Murray as a professor for the first six weeks of this semester, everyday, through his lectures, he would instill in us the power and knowledge to do good, be better and use our legal careers to positively affect the world around us.
It is with great trepidation, but with even greater honor, that I was tasked with putting together the edition of Juris that was to memorialize such a great man. My first experience with law school, when I toured Duquesne in the spring of 2012, was sitting through Dr. Murray’s first-year contracts class. I remember sitting in the class very confused about the material being lectured on, but being amazed at the way Dr. Murray taught with grace, elegance and a general care for all of his students. He was a stoic man. He was a man who will be remembered by thousands for his contributions to their legal educations, and a man who will be remembered by countless others for his kindness, selflessness and general goodwill.
When planning this edition, I knew that there was only one of my classmates who I wanted to write the article remembering Dr. Murray. Brandon Uram, Dr. Murray’s research assistant for the last
two years, was the one student who knew him best. When Brandon submitted the article to me I knew immediately that it was the right choice. The article is written with such passion that people who never met Dr. Murray would easily learn to respect him. Additionally, Dr. Murray’s son Tim graciously provided Juris with pictures of Dr. Murray throughout the years. I would like to thank Brandon and Tim for making this article as special as I wanted it to be, and, more importantly, as special as it needed to be.
Looking back on my last three years at Duquesne Law, I have so many fond memories and made so many close friends, which I will take with me for the rest of my life. Whether it was a vigorous debate in class, the many meetings, moot court practices or law school events, everyone I have come in contact with has had such a profound impact on me. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to work and learn alongside such talented individuals.
I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me throughout the highs and lows of law school. I would like to thank every professor and faculty member of Duquesne who has shaped my education and assisted me in reaching my dreams of becoming a lawyer. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Bridget Daley, L‘13, and Matthew Beddingfield, L‘14, for giving me the opportunity to work on Juris since my first year at Duquesne Law.
As a final message, I wish the Duquesne University School of Law Class of 2015 the best of luck in your careers and lives. Never forget the Duquesne Law motto—Salus Populi Suprema Lex—the welfare of the people is the highest law, and, as Dr. Murray so aptly stated, “Everyday has to be an attempt to say, creatively or otherwise, what can I do to make it better than it was yesterday.”
Matthew Andersen, 3D, is the Editor-in-Chief of Juris. He is also the Executive Editor of the Duquesne Business Law Journal and a Competition Director for the Appellate Moot Court Board. He was honored to be inducted into the Justice Louis L. Manderino Honor Society and awarded the Abraham & Anna Helman Memorial Prize. Upon graduation and taking the bar, Matthew will be accepting a law clerk position with President Judge Stephen G. Baratta of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. He can be reached at matt.b.andersen@gmail.com.
