Bernard Anthony Murray

     Bernard Anthony Murray, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and distinguished member of the American legal community, passed away on November 9, 2025, in Long Beach, California, surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old. Known to all who loved him as Tony, he leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence, integrity, and a love of family.

     Born in Los Angeles, Tony grew up in San Gabriel, where he attended Mark Keppel High School. He graduated from Loyola Law School Los Angeles and settled in Long Beach. Tony built a remarkable career as a trial lawyer spanning more than fifty years. He was a partner at Ball, Hunt, Hart, Brown & Baerwitz and, later, at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where his skill, integrity, and commanding presence in the courtroom set him apart. Among his notable cases were his representation of the Chancellor of UCSB, the residents of La Conchita following a devastating landslide, and the international media company Bertelsmann AG.

     His dedication to the law extended far beyond his own practice. Tony served as President of the State Bar of California and was a Fellow and Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the most distinguished honors in the legal profession, and reserved for those who have demonstrated the highest standards of trial advocacy and ethical conduct. He shared his expertise with the next generation of lawyers as a professor of trial advocacy at Loyola Law School and was a founder and President of the California Appellate Project, devoted to representing defendants in criminal appeals.

     A scholar at heart, Tony channeled his love of legal history into lasting written works. Together with his dear friend Edwin Quattlebaum, he co-authored Justice Holmes: The Measure of His Thought, a collaboration he treasured deeply. He also wrote a biography of his beloved mentor Joseph A. Ball, and contributed numerous articles on the law throughout his career.

     Tony was a man of warmth, curiosity, and deep loyalty. He was a lifelong Dodgers fan, holding season tickets since the 1960s, a tradition that brought him great joy across generations of family memories. An avid reader, he brought the same rigor and enthusiasm to books that he gave to the law.

     Yet for all his professional accomplishments, Tony was never more himself than in the summers spent in the mountains he cherished. Each year, he returned to Mammoth Lakes, where he could be found on the trails with family and friends, breathing the Sierra air and savoring the simple, irreplaceable gift of time with the people he loved most. It is a tradition his family lovingly continues.

     Tony is survived by his devoted wife, Kathleen; his sons Matt (partner Lisa) and Tom (wife Ana); his daughter Katie (husband Barrett); his five grandchildren Conor, Cassandra (husband Connor), Victoria, Isabella (fiancé Matt), and Olivia (husband Ricky); his two great-grandchildren, Jonah and Gracie; and his brother Dan (wife Kathy). He was preceded in death by his brother Mick (wife Joyce).

     Tony Murray was a man of uncommon character. Those who knew him, whether in the courtroom, on the mountainside, or gathered around the family table, were the richer for it. He will be profoundly missed.