@meghannmcuniff: Judge Debra McCaslin took over Alex Murdaugh's murder case in South Carolina because the judge who presided over his first trial retired. She's scheduled his second trial for April 5, 2027, and she said today she won't tolerate contentious courtroom bickering. Murdaugh's lawyer Dick Harpootlian was discussing prosecutors' lack of response to motions to compel evidence when he said, "Now, if Mr. Waters will sit down for just a minute, I'd like to explain a little bit more," referring to Prosecutor Creighton Waters. McCaslin interjected. "Alright, I'm going to tell y'all, y'all need to stop this, okay? I'm gonna talk to y'all before we leave here today. But this has got to stop. I don't want this tit for tat back between y'all. Y'all are lawyers. You're professional. You're professionals. This is a court. This isn't a soundbite. Okay?" the judge said. She told attorneys at the end of the two-hour hearing, "Further, this case will be tried in a courtroom under the rules of evidence and the law, not in the press and not in the court of public opinion. I will not allow these proceedings to become a circus, and I will not permit anyone involved in this case to use this courtroom as a platform for publicity or theatrics." "I remind you that when you file your motions and responses. You do so professionally. These documents become part of the permanent record, and I am troubled by some of the filings, particularly those containing allegations of misrepresentation, a lack of candor, or improper conduct. I want to again encourage the parties to work together to resolve issues before filing motions that could have been resolved without having to involve the court," the judge said. "I'll tell you, the court stands by to resolve any issues you may have, but y'all should try to work these out on your own. In closing, from this point forward, I expect complete candor with the court, conduct consistent with the seriousness and dignity of these proceedings. With that, I will see y'all on November the 13th." #law #crime #court

Meghann Cuniff

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Saturday 17 October 2026 00:38:40 GMT