Connecticut FOI Commission Press Release
The State of Connecticut today recognizes the extraordinary public service of Colleen M. Murphy, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, on her retirement after a distinguished career devoted to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. She concludes her 35-year career at the Commission on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
For decades, Colleen Murphy has stood at the forefront of Connecticut’s commitment to open government. Through her leadership at the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, she has helped ensure that the public’s right to know remains not only protected in statute, but realized in practice. Her steady guidance, intellectual rigor, and unwavering integrity have shaped the Commission into a nationally respected guardian of democratic principles.
Governor Ned Lamont praised Murphy’s legacy, stating:
“Colleen Murphy represents the very best of public service. Her lifelong dedication to transparency has strengthened our democracy and reinforced the public’s trust in government. She has safeguarded the public’s right to know with wisdom, fairness, and a deep respect for the law. Connecticut is stronger because of her leadership, and her impact will endure for generations.”
Murphy’s tenure reflects a remarkable progression of service. Prior to be appointing Executive Director in 2005 she served as the Commission’s Managing Director, and, before that, as a member of its legal staff. In each role, she brought a scholar’s command of the law and a public servant’s devotion to the people of Connecticut.
“Colleen Murphy is a once-in-a-generation public servant. Her career has been defined by intellectual excellence, principled leadership, and an unshakeable commitment to open government,” said Owen P. Eagan, chairman of the Freedom of Information Commission. “She has been a cornerstone of transparency in Connecticut — a trusted advisor, a respected colleague, and a steady voice for accountability. Her contributions have strengthened not only the Freedom of Information Commission, but the entire framework of ethical governance in our state.”
Her influence extends far beyond a single agency. Since its inception, she has served as a board member of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, helping to cultivate a statewide culture of transparency.
Nationally, she has served as a Director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, advancing open government principles across the country.
A respected leader within the legal community, Murphy is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and a long-standing member of the Administrative Law and the Media and the Law Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association. She also completed a four-year term on the Steering Committee for the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws, contributing to national dialogue on ethics and accountability in public service.
Murphy’s dedication to education has been equally profound. A frequent speaker on government transparency and privacy, she co-taught courses on Privacy and the First Amendment at the University of Connecticut and on Comparative Freedom of Information Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, mentoring the next generation of lawyers and public servants.
Murphy is a graduate of Providence College and Boston College Law School. Throughout her career, she has exemplified the highest ideals of the legal profession and public service.
Her retirement marks the close of an extraordinary chapter in Connecticut’s civic life. While her daily presence at the Commission will be deeply missed, the structures she fortified, the precedents she helped shape, and the values she championed will continue to guide Connecticut’s open government tradition for years to come.
Colleen Murphy’s legacy is not merely institutional — it is constitutional. She leaves behind a stronger democracy, a more transparent government, and a grateful state.