Capacity: Advocate
First Appointed as a Judge: N/A
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Date of Birth: October 1960
Qualifications: BA (1981) LLB (1983)(University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Candidate Bio:
Adv Muray Breval Pitman began his legal journey with financial assistance from the Department of Justice, where he was provided a bursary during his LLB studies. After completing his LLB, he fulfilled his compulsory national service in Pretoria, at the Personnel Services School. He was appointed as an officer and later served as a legal officer at the 97 Ammunition Depot in De Aar for 14 months.
Upon completion of his military service, he began his legal career as a District Court Prosecutor at the Durban Magistrate’s Court in 1986. After two years, he was promoted to Regional Court Prosecutor, where he handled high-profile and complex cases, including white-collar crimes, sexual offences, murders, and drug-related cases. His dedication led to his promotion as Regional Court Control Prosecutor for Durban, where he managed the administration of all Regional Court Prosecutors and made critical decisions when junior prosecutors needed guidance.
Influenced by the legacy of his father, a respected advocate in Pietermaritzburg, Adv Pitman pursued a career in advocacy, determined to honour his father’s memory. Following his resignation from the Department of Justice in 1993, Adv Pitman completed his pupillage and was admitted as an advocate in July 1994. Since then, he has been practising as an advocate.
He has contributed to the jurisprudence of the country in several highlight cases of his career, including S v Khumalo and Others which was his first murder trial in the High Court as an advocate. The death sentence was still a legal option at the time, and his client, a policeman, was convicted. Though the client was not sentenced to death, the emotional and moral weight of the case solidified Adv Pitman’s personal aversion to the death penalty. This case marked the period when the death sentence was being phased out, aligning with the broader societal shift away from capital punishment, which was officially abolished on 6 June 1995.
In recognition of his extensive experience, he was proposed for Senior Practitioner status in 2024.Throughout his 40-year career, he has acquired deep institutional knowledge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division, which he is eager to share by offering his services to the judiciary.
Adv Pitman has sat as an Acting Judge of the High Court on six occasions and has served in that role for several weeks at a time. He is currently a member of Umhlanga Chambers, where he serves as the group’s administrative head.
He is registered to participate in the Aspirant Judges Course, scheduled from 25 June to 27 June 2024, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing his legal career.
