Judge: Disbarred JAG can’t be punished

[unhappycamper]

Judge: Disbarred JAG can’t be punished
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 12, 2008 13:18:42 EDT

Nearly two years after it was discovered that Col. Michael D. Murphy — at the time one of the Air Force’s top lawyers and a one-star select — had, in fact, been disbarred for nearly his entire military career, the Air Force’s efforts to prosecute him appear to be falling apart.

The list of charges against Murphy has been whittled down from the 22 counts originally filed in May 2007 to just seven today, and the judge in the case ruled Sept. 5 that Murphy cannot be punished for his alleged crimes even if he is convicted.

The ruling was immediately appealed. Meanwhile, Murphy is still on active-duty — collecting $11,682 a month in salary and housing allowance as an O-6 living in the Washington, D.C., area, according to military pay charts. That’s $140,184 a year before taxes.

He is working as a special projects officer for the operations and plans directorate of the Air Force District of Washington, which has jurisdiction over his case.

Murphy’s team of lawyers have successfully parlayed a dispute with the White House Military Office about access to classified information into a major victory for its client.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/airforce_murphy_091108w/%2e