Opinion
12-18-2023
State of South Carolina, v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Defendant.
Colleton County 2022-GS-15-00592 2022-GS-15-00593 2022-GS-15-00594 2022-GS-15-00595.
ORDER
Donald W. Beatty, Chief Justice of South Carolina.
With the Honorable Clifton Newman presiding, the Defendant was convicted of the murders of Margaret Kennedy Branstetter Murdaugh and Paul Terry Murdaugh on March 2, 2023, and sentenced on March 3, 2023. On October 27, 2023, the Defendant filed a motion for a new trial.
I find that Judge Clifton Newman has requested to be removed from all post-trial matters related to the above-referenced matters.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Honorable Jean Hoefer Toal, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, be assigned exclusive jurisdiction for the limited purpose of presiding over Defendant's motion for a new trial in the above matters. Justice Toal shall decide all matters pertaining to these cases, including motions to appoint and relieve counsel, and shall retain jurisdiction over these cases regardless of where she may be assigned to hold court and may schedule such hearings as may be necessary at any time without regard as to whether there is a term of court scheduled.