On February 8, 2010, Laura W. Murphy returned to the ACLU Washington Legislative Office (WLO) to serve as its Director (a position she previously held from 1993 to 2005). Since returning this year Murphy has immersed herself in national security, criminal justice, human rights, privacy, civil rights and First Amendment issues. Murphy played a leadership role in the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 signed into law by President Obama on August 3, 2010, a law that reduced the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and that begins to address some of the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. She has met with leaders in the Unites States Congress and the Obama Administration to advance the ACLU’s public policy priorities on military tribunals, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), reproductive rights and civil rights, among other issues. Prior to her return, she founded and directed her own firm, Laura Murphy & Associates, L.L.C., where she utilized her 30 years of policy-making and political expertise to guide and advise corporate and non-profit clients at the national, state and local levels.

Murphy is well known for her legislative advocacy on human rights and civil liberties. Both major newspapers on Capitol Hill, Roll Call and The Hill, selected Murphy as one of the 50 most influential lobbyists and one of 17 top nonprofit lobbyists in 1997 and 2003, respectively. In 1997, and again in 2003, the Congressional Black Caucus honored her for her significant contributions to legislation that advances civil rights and civil liberties. She has been given awards for her work with Congress and the White House by the ACLU affiliates in Massachusetts, Mississippi and Maryland. In previous professional positions Murphy served as chief of staff to a California Assembly Speaker, a cabinet member for the Mayor of the District of Columbia, an account executive for a public affairs firm, and a legislative assistant for two members of Congress. Murphy has testified more than a dozen times before Congress and is an experienced national spokesperson. She has been a frequent guest on PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, ABC World News, CNN –including Lou Dobbs and Larry King Live, Fox News, and National Public Radio.