Murdaugh Judge Warns Lawyers Retrial Will Not Become a Circus

A judge in South Carolina warned lawyers on Friday that the retrial of Alex Murdaugh will not be tried in the press. Judge Debra McCaslin spoke during a pretrial hearing at the Lexington County Courthouse on October 16, 2026. The hearing lasted about two hours. It was the third pretrial proceeding since the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh's 2023 murder convictions.

The state Supreme Court ruled on May 13, 2026 that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors. That decision set aside the convictions and opened the way for a new trial. Murdaugh, 58, was convicted of killing his wife Maggie, 52, and his son Paul, 22, in 2021 at the family property in Colleton County. He remains in prison on separate financial crime convictions while he waits for the retrial.

The retrial is set to start on April 5, 2027 in Sumter County.

Fight over evidence

Much of the October 16 hearing dealt with evidence the defense wants before trial. The defense is seeking DNA evidence, including test results for unknown male DNA found under Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails. Lawyers also want ballistics records from shootings involving .300 Blackout rifles in eight other Lowcountry counties.

The defense also asked for cellphone forensic files and 3D scans of the crime scene. Prosecutors and defense lawyers argued over what should be turned over and when. The judge did not settle every dispute on Friday, but she set a clear schedule for the next steps.

Judge McCaslin declined to rule on a defense motion about an alleged crime scene cover-up and the disposal of the murder weapons. She cited grand jury secrecy as the reason for holding off. She also reminded prosecutors of their duty under Brady rules to disclose certain evidence to the defense if that duty is triggered.

Judge corrects the record

The judge also corrected a claim made by the defense about a polygraph test. She said the record shows Murdaugh failed a federal polygraph test tied to his financial crimes. She said he never took a polygraph test about the murders.

She told both sides she expects truth and accuracy in court filings and arguments. She warned she will not let the case become a contest in news coverage before jurors hear the evidence.

The next hearing is set for November 13. That hearing will cover the start of jury selection and a motion to dismiss. Another hearing is set for January 20, 2027. Jury notices are expected to go out in February.

Why it matters

The case drew national attention during the first trial in 2023. The reversal turned on the conduct of a court official, not on a finding that the evidence was too weak. That means prosecutors will present their case again, and the defense will get a new chance to challenge it.

The move to Sumter County and the long schedule show how much work remains before a jury is seated. Evidence fights like the ones argued on Friday often shape what jurors are allowed to hear months later.

For now, Murdaugh stays in prison. The April 2027 date gives both sides about six months to finish the evidence disputes, prepare witnesses, and argue the motions the judge has set for November and January.