Colleton County Court Clerk Becky Hill announced her resignation and decision not to seek re-election in light of ongoing investigations related to jury tampering allegations in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial. Hill emphasized that her choice was not influenced by the allegations but was a personal decision to focus on her family and allow other candidates to run for the position. Her attorney, Justin Bramberg, clarified that the resignation was not a response to the investigations being conducted against Hill, including allegations of financial misconduct and jury tampering, which SLED has been investigating since September.
The situation arose following Alex Murdaugh’s conviction for the murder of his wife and son and subsequent allegations of jury tampering against Hill, who was the court clerk during the trial. Despite requests for a new murder trial based on the allegations, Justice Jean Toal ultimately concluded, after hearing from the jurors involved, that a new trial was not necessary. Most jurors expressed that Hill did not influence their decisions, with only one juror mentioning that Hill’s comments did not sway his verdict. Neil Gordon, Hill’s co-author, reported being interviewed by a SLED agent on the matter and expressed hope that Hill’s resignation would help restore public trust in the clerk’s office.
During a press conference, Hill reflected on managing the prominent trial and the impact it had on her decision to step down. She highlighted the support of the community during the high-profile case and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the clerk of court’s office. Hill’s decision to resign comes amid scrutiny over her involvement in the trial and allegations of using her position for personal gain, including sales of her book on the case, which she later admitted contained plagiarized content. Despite the ongoing investigations, Hill’s attorney stressed that her resignation was not a direct response to the allegations but a personal choice to focus on her family.
The announcement of Hill’s resignation and decision not to seek re-election sparked discussions about the integrity of the clerk of court’s office and the need to restore public trust in the wake of the allegations. The investigations into Hill’s conduct during the Murdaugh trial have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and misuse of her position for personal gain. Hill’s co-author, Neil Gordon, expressed hope that her resignation would alleviate any further action against her and help rebuild public confidence in the clerk’s office. The impact of Hill’s decision on the upcoming election for the position of Colleton County Court Clerk remains to be seen as other Republican candidates express interest in running.
Despite the controversies surrounding Hill’s tenure as court clerk and the allegations against her, Justice Jean Toal’s ruling on the matter emphasized the professionalism and dedication displayed by the jurors in delivering a guilty verdict for Alex Murdaugh. The judge acknowledged the challenges faced by Hill during the high-profile trial and the scrutiny that came with managing such a significant case. The decision not to grant a new murder trial based on the jury tampering allegations indicated a level of confidence in the integrity of the trial process and the jurors’ ability to reach a fair and just verdict. Moving forward, the focus will shift to ensuring transparency and accountability in the clerk of court’s office and rebuilding trust with the public.
