James R. Murphy

James R. Murphy was sworn in as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on January 7, 2026, for a term expiring on December 16, 2027. Mr. Murphy was designated as Chairman of the NLRB by President Trump on March 26, 2026.

Chairman Murphy returned from retirement to the Board where he had spent a distinguished career of over 47 years of service. Chairman Murphy began at the Board as a student law clerk in 1974 and served as counsel to numerous Board members over the decades. He served successive stints as Chief Counsel to former Board Members Brian Hayes, Harry Johnson, and most recently to Chairman Marvin Kaplan. Chairman Murphy received his J.D. degree from American University and his B.A. from Princeton University. He and his wife Karen have been married for over fifty years. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.