A Tribute to Judge Muir - Law Day 2007

Law Day 2007 was dedicated to a public servant, who also happens to be the  Lycoming Law Association's longest standing member.  Judge Malcolm Muir was recognized at the Law Day ceremony and also at a reception that followed the public proceedings.

Judge Muir has served as a United States District Court Judge since 1970 and has been an LLA member since 1938.  His service to the Association and the community was thoroughly reviewed by Jack Humphrey, in a tribute that was recorded. See the tribute on YouTube.

Biography

Malcolm Stabler Muir was born October 20, 1914, in Englewood, New Jersey. Judge Muir graduated from the Williamsport High School in 1931, from Lehigh University in 1935, and from the Harvard Law School in 1938. He was admitted to the Lycoming County Bar in 1938. In his early years of practice, he shared offices with John C. Youngman, Sr., a member of this Bar.

In 1942, Judge Muir enlisted in the United States Navy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Upon Judge Muir’s separation from the service at the end of World War II, he returned to Williamsport and resumed the practice of law as a sole practitioner until 1949, when he became a partner in the newly formed firm of Furst, McCormick, Muir & Lynn. He remained with that firm and its successors until 1968, when he left and became associated with Joseph L. Rider. Judge Muir maintained his association with Joseph L. Rider until Muir was invested as a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on November 6, 1970.

In 1946, he started the Lycoming Reporter, which was published for some time by him without advertisements and in mimeographed form. After the Court recognized it as the official legal periodical for Lycoming County, he served as the first editor for nearly 20 years during which time he analyzed all of the local court opinions and wrote all of the syllabi. Judge Muir served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Lycoming Law Association for many years and as its President in 1954. He was one of a small group who founded the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and became the first treasurer of that organization.

Judge Muir became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association in his first year of practice and was a member of the Board of Governors of that Association for five years. He was elected that organization’s first individual treasurer, the organization having previously been served by a Philadelphia bank as treasurer. He was elected Vice President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and at the time of his appointment to the bench was the President-Elect. He renounced the presidency because of his perceived need to devote full time to the judgeship.

In 1940 Judge Muir married the former Alma Brohard of Grafton, West Virginia. They had five children, Malcolm, Jr., Thomas, Ann, Barbara, and Clay. Barbara died in 1982. Mrs. Muir died in 1985.