John E. Murphy (February 13, 1900 – November 1, 1994) was an American jurist and politician who served as presiding justice of Peabody District Court and served two stints in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

He ran for mayor of Peabody in 1938, but lost to Joseph B. O'Keefe by 709 votes.

[2] In 1958, Governor Foster Furcolo appointed Murphy a special justice of the Peabody District Court.

[9] Murphy died on November 1, 1994, at a rehabilitation center in Danvers, Massachusetts.

He was survived by three children, one of whom John E. Murphy Jr., also served in the House of Representatives.