The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned Alex Murdaugh's double murder convictions on May 13, 2026, ordering a new trial in the 2021 killings of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul [1][2]. The 5-0 ruling vacates the life sentences imposed following Murdaugh's 2023 conviction in Colleton County [2]. Murdaugh, a former attorney from a prominent South Carolina legal family, had been found guilty of shooting both victims at the family's Islandton hunting property [1].
The court's decision turned on the conduct of Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, who allegedly communicated with jurors during deliberations and urged them not to be "fooled" by Murdaugh [1][2]. The justices held that Hill's conduct created a presumption of prejudice, a burden the state failed to overcome [2][3]. Hill, who later published a book about her experience as clerk during the trial, denied wrongdoing when the allegations surfaced in post-trial proceedings [1]. Defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin had raised the jury-influence claims as the central basis for the appeal [2].
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said prosecutors intend to retry Murdaugh as soon as practicable [3]. The ruling does not affect Murdaugh's separate federal financial crimes convictions, on which he is currently serving time [1][2]. Those charges stem from a broader scheme in which Murdaugh admitted to defrauding clients and his former law firm of millions of dollars over many years [1]. His continued federal incarceration means he will not be released pending any retrial on the murder counts.
The decision represents a significant development in South Carolina criminal procedure, as successful appeals in major murder cases have been rare in the state [2]. The ruling's framework for analyzing external jury influence, specifically the presumption-of-prejudice standard applied to a court officer's conduct, may inform how future misconduct claims are evaluated in South Carolina courts [2][3]. Prosecutors will face the challenge of retrying a case in which physical evidence and witness availability may have shifted since the original 2023 proceedings. No retrial date has been set.