Murray: Delaware is open for crime
Standing in front of the Wilmington Police Department Sept. 16, Julianne Murray announced her run for attorney general.
“I am running because people across Delaware, across party lines, have contacted me and urged me to run for attorney general,” said the Georgetown attorney, who was a gubernatorial candidate in 2020. “They believe as I do that Delaware needs an attorney general, not an activist general.”
She said Delawareans want an attorney general who will protect their rights and freedoms, and work with law enforcement to keep violent offenders off the street.
“Delawareans want an attorney general to work for them, not special interests,” she said.
Quoting from a June 2020 letter of no confidence written by the Delaware State Troopers Association, Delaware Fraternal Order of Police and Delaware Police Chiefs Council, she said protests in 2020 left police incapable of doing their jobs and made communities less safe.
“It is extraordinarily sad that our police have no confidence in the person who is supposed to be the top cop,” she said. “This has to stop.”
Following protests in 2020 in which many businesses were vandalized and damaged, Murray said police and a deputy attorney general had advised that charges be filed, but Attorney General Kathleen Jennings overruled them.
“Think of the message that was sent to the criminals. And we’re seeing the results,” Murray said.
In Wilmington, murders are up 50 percent, and as of Aug. 29, she said, there have been 318 aggravated assaults in the city.
“People are scared to walk the streets. They’re afraid to drive to Wilmington. The message has been sent that Delaware is open for crime,” she said.
Murray said if elected she will be tough as nails and prosecute criminals to the full extent of the law. She said she will work with police and with law-abiding citizens who want to defend themselves.
“I side with the victims of crime, not the criminals,” she said.
Murray, who works as a defense attorney in Georgetown, broke into politics in 2020 when she won the Republican primary in the race for governor. On Nov. 3, she won about 38 percent of the vote to Gov. John Carney’s 59 percent. Murray pledged that she will not run for governor in 2024, and if elected attorney general, will serve the full term.
“There is so much that has to be done to make our streets safe again, and there is no way I would not consider fulfilling the whole term,” she said.
With her announcement, Murray joins former judge and legislator Chuck Welch, also an attorney, on the Republican primary ballot.
Born and raised in Alexandria, Va., Murray attended University of Arizona on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a bachelor's degree in science. She moved back east and worked as a paralegal for a law firm. In 2002, Murray and her husband Patrick bought a condo in Dewey Beach, and they also have a home in Seaford.
After working for a law firm in 2008, Murray decided to attend law school, graduating in 2011. She passed the bar, opened Murray Law in 2012, and since then, has added partners and more offices. Murray, Phillips & Gay continues to operate in Georgetown with offices in Milford and Seaford.
