Murdaugh Supreme Court Hearing: Justices Skeptical of Prosecution's Arguments

The South Carolina Supreme Court just heard Alex Murdaugh's appeal—and the prosecution faced a gauntlet of skeptical questions.

February 11, 2026 marked the most significant moment in the Murdaugh case since the 2023 conviction. All five justices convened in Columbia to hear oral arguments on two core issues: whether former Clerk of Court Becky Hill's comments to jurors constituted jury tampering, and whether the trial itself was compromised by improper evidence.

Chief Justice John Kittredge didn't hold back. He called Hill a "rogue clerk" and questioned why the trial court allowed such expansive testimony about Murdaugh's financial crimes. "I couldn't find any example of financial crime evidence that was excluded," he said. "The granular detail... is arguably problematic."

Prosecutor Creighton Waters defended the state's approach, arguing jurors needed to understand the "slow burn" of Murdaugh's financial collapse to comprehend his motive. He even referenced the movie "Fargo" to illustrate desperation—prompting Justice John Few to cut him off: "I haven't seen 'Fargo'—get to the point."

Defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian, Jim Griffin, and Phillip Barber argued Hill's statements—including telling jurors to "watch his body language" and not be "fooled"—violated Murdaugh's Sixth Amendment rights. They also challenged cell phone trajectory evidence, a blue raincoat with gunshot residue never linked to Murdaugh, and the volume of financial testimony as unfairly prejudicial.

Waters maintained the evidence was "overwhelming" and Hill's comments "fleeting." But multiple justices questioned the logical connection between financial crimes and murder.

The court will now deliberate privately. There's no deadline for a ruling. If the conviction is upheld, Murdaugh's team has signaled federal appeals are next. This episode breaks down everything from the hearing.

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