Judicial District 5A will have a new district court judge. Thomas Murphy, of West Des Moines, was officially sworn in on Friday, January 26th, at the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel. The district includes Guthrie and Dallas Counties, as well as: Jasper, Warren, Marion, and Madison. Murphy was selected to accommodate the approaching retirement of current Judge Gregory Hulse.

Murphy received his undergraduate degree from Marquette University in 1985 as a Distinguished Military graduate. He then received his law degree from Drake University Law School with Honors in 1992. Murphy was previously in private practice for 19 years and house counsel for six years. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar and Dallas County Bar Associations.