Alex Murdaugh Returns to Court as Defense Seeks Retrial Venue Change Over Clerk Scandal Jury Concerns

Alex Murdaugh’s murder case returns to court Monday morning, with proceedings unfolding against the backdrop of a clerk of court scandal that led to his convictions being overturned and reopened the possibility of a second trial for one of the country’s most closely watched defendants.

Murdaugh, the disbarred former South Carolina lawyer who was convicted in the 2021 killings of his wife and son before those convictions were later vacated, is expected to appear for a 10 a.m. status and scheduling hearing in Lexington County, South Carolina.

The hearing will be Murdaugh’s first court appearance tied to a potential retrial since he was sentenced in March 2023 in a wide-ranging series of financial crimes cases.

Monday’s proceeding is not expected to focus on the details of the killings of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, 52, and their younger son, Paul, 22, who were found fatally shot near the dog kennels at the family’s Moselle hunting property in June 2021.

Instead, the hearing is likely to center on scheduling, evidence discovery and other procedural issues as prosecutors and defense attorneys begin laying the groundwork for what could become Murdaugh’s second murder trial.

Still, criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno told News Agency that even a procedural hearing could offer an early look at the key disputes shaping the next stage of the case, including where a new trial would take place and how quickly the state could put Murdaugh before another jury.

“I think the main thing we’re going to learn is whether or not there’s going to be a change in venue and what the trial dates are looking like,” Rotunno said.

Murdaugh’s defense team has pushed for a venue change out of the circuit, arguing that the legal circus surrounding the case and the misconduct allegations tied to the original trial make it impossible for him to get a fair retrial.

Venue changes are typically a steep climb, Rotunno said, because courts often find that wall-to-wall publicity follows a notorious defendant no matter where the case is moved.

“A change of venue is always a difficult task because the court’s position is, no matter where you live, you know about this,” she said. “You can read about it. You can watch these trials when they’re televised. So a lot of times courts will say it doesn’t matter if we change the venue.”

But Murdaugh’s case, she said, is different.

His murder convictions were overturned after the South Carolina Supreme Court found improper comments by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill, whose conduct became the basis for Murdaugh’s bid for a new trial.

“I think in this situation, it’s a little bit different, given the fact that you had a clerk in that county basically cause the whole reason we’re having a new trial,” Rotunno said. “So I do think, given the appearance of impropriety here, it would probably behoove the court to make the decision for the change of venue.”

Rotunno said keeping the case in the same county could create problems down the line if Murdaugh were convicted again.

“I think if you’re looking at the thought of appeals down the line, if he were to lose in that same county, you may open yourself up to more scrutiny,” she said.

Murdaugh, once a powerful Lowcountry lawyer from a prominent legal dynasty, was convicted in March 2023 of gunning down Maggie and Paul. Prosecutors argued at trial that Murdaugh killed them to gain sympathy and distract from a collapsing web of financial crimes, stolen client money and lies.

The case was thrown back into turmoil after allegations surfaced that Hill made improper comments to jurors during the trial. Murdaugh’s defense argued she tampered with the jury to secure a guilty verdict and boost publicity for a book.

The court found that Hill was drawn by the “siren call of celebrity” and allowed public attention to overcome her duty. Hill co-authored a book about the proceedings, “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” which the lawsuit says earned roughly $100,000 before being withdrawn amid plagiarism allegations.

In December 2025 Hill pleaded guilty to four charges: obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it, plus two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting a book she wrote on the trial through her public office.

The state has maintained that Murdaugh received a fair trial, but the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the murder and weapons convictions and remanded the case for new proceedings.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has indicated he hopes to try the case by the end of the year, previously telling News Agency that he plans to try it “as quickly and expeditiously as possible.”

“Look, I’m being aspirational when I say this, but we would like to try to get this case up before January 2027. That would be our goal,” he said.

“I think that might be a little overzealous,” Rottuno said.

She said the timeline will ultimately depend on the judge and whether Murdaugh’s defense team says it can be ready.

“I know that they’re definitely exploring a lot of new defense options here, so they may want a little bit more time than that,” Rotunno said. “End of the year is only six months away, and you’re talking about holidays. I don’t see that.”

Murdaugh’s attorneys have already previewed some of the issues they want to raise before any retrial, including a motion to test unknown male DNA reportedly found under Maggie’s fingernails.

His defense team also filed a motion to have Murdaugh remain unshackled, but withdrew the motion after prosecutors fired back that the disgraced lawyer “thinks he’s special.”

“Murdaugh is not just a pre-trial detainee; he is an inmate serving a very long sentence,” the state wrote.

Prosecutors also argued that Murdaugh should not receive different treatment “simply because the crimes he allegedly committed have received media attention.”

His attorneys fired back that the state’s opposition was “without merit,” accused prosecutors of “histrionics” and argued that televised pretrial proceedings could still prejudice prospective jurors if Murdaugh is displayed in shackles.

The defense later withdrew the motion, saying Murdaugh did not want to create a distraction before the status conference and wanted the court to focus on issues more central to his defense.

“If the State wants to use that for a public spectacle, so be it,” the defense wrote. “Mr. Murdaugh will not waste the Court’s time at the upcoming status conference arguing about the optics.”