The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the convictions on May 13, citing Hill's alleged "shocking jury interference"
Credit: Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Alex Murdaugh filed a federal lawsuit against former court clerk Becky Hill, alleging she improperly influenced jurors
- The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s convictions on May 13, citing Hill’s “shocking jury interference” during his 2023 trial
- Murdaugh’s legal team says the lawsuit aims to hold Hill accountable and fully investigate her alleged misconduct
Alex Murdaugh filed a federal lawsuit against Rebecca “Becky” Hill, the former court clerk whose alleged actions led to the South Carolina Supreme Court overturning his double murder convictions and life sentence.
Murdaugh, 57, filed the civil rights lawsuit on Sunday, May 17, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, reports NBC News, The State and CNN. The former attorney alleges that he was denied his right to a fair trial after Hill improperly influenced jurors.
“Mr. Murdaugh brings this action to hold Ms. Hill accountable for her wrongful conduct under color of state law and to recover compensatory and punitive damages as provided by law,” the lawsuit reads, NBC News reported.
Credit: John Monk/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty
“Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant in this matter in a sum sufficient to adequately compensate him for damages suffered, for punitive damages, for reasonable attorney's fees, for the costs of this action, and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper,” the lawsuit reads, per CNN. “As a result of Ms. Hill's actions, Mr. Murdaugh suffered monetary damages of $600,000.”
During a press conference in Columbia, S.C., on Monday, Murdaugh's legal team said one of the purposes of the lawsuit is to investigate Hill's actions fully.
“The purpose of this lawsuit is to hold Becky Hill accountable for what she did. She has not been held accountable at all for her conduct,” one of his attorneys, Jim Griffin, said, WACH reported. “And two, is to investigate exactly what she did. Which we'll be able to do through the course of civil litigation, we have subpoena power, we can take depositions.”
Murdaugh still faces charges for the June 2021 deaths of his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and their 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh. In March 2023, he was convicted of both murders and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole. Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
After his conviction, Murdaugh's legal team filed an appeal, accusing Hill, the former Colleton County Clerk of Court, of improperly influencing the jurors who convicted him. They claimed Hill allegedly made comments to the jury that violated his Sixth Amendment right to a fair and impartial trial.
On May 13, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the convictions, citing Hill's “improper external influences on the jury,” and ordered a new trial.
Murdaugh's attorneys quote the court's unanimous 5-0 decision, in which the justices called Hill's actions during the 2023 trial “shocking jury interference.” They wrote that Hill “became a character witness on behalf of the State” and “essentially implored the jurors to find him guilty.”
Hill has not been charged with jury tampering, but she did plead guilty to perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in December 2025. She was sentenced to probation with no prison time, 100 hours of community service and $11,880 in restitution, reports The State. However, Hill has denied improperly influencing the jury.
Credit: Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
During Monday's press conference, Griffin said none of the $600,000 from the federal lawsuit would go to Murdaugh personally. Murdaugh remains in prison as he is serving a 27-year state sentence and a 40-year federal sentence for financial crimes, including stealing millions of dollars from his clients and law firm.
Murdaugh's retrial has not been scheduled. Dick Harpootlian, another member of Murdaugh's legal team, said Monday that they expect it to start within a year, per WACH.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson disagreed with the court overturning Murdaugh's convictions, reports NBC News. He told the outlet that “all our legal options are on the table, including the death penalty.”
On Monday, Harpootlian accused Wilson, who is running for governor of South Carolina, of playing politics for saying he was going to seek the death penalty.
“Our reconsideration of the death penalty was made in consultation with our legal team,” Wilson told Fox News in response to the press conference by Murdaugh's legal team. “I haven't talked to anyone with my campaign team about this.”
PEOPLE reached out to Griffin for comment. PEOPLE also reached out to Will Lewis, who was Hill's attorney in her criminal case. Lewis told The State he no longer represents Hill.
Read the full article here
