South Carolina Supreme Court appoints new circuit judge to oversee new Alex Murdaugh trial

John Monk, The State on Jun 8, 2026

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court has named a circuit court judge to oversee the retrial of Alex Murdaugh.

Debra McCaslin, a former criminal defense attorney, will have the duties of overseeing what is expected to be one of the state’s highest profile trials.

Among the decisions she will have to make is the date of any retrial and its location.

Disbarred attorney Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June 2021.

Although Murdaugh’s retrial is expected to be attended by not just professional reporters but also numerous bloggers, podcasters and others, McCaslin in her most recent filing for reelection to a judgeship wrote, “I am not a big fan of social media and rarely look at it. It has not affected me in my judicial capacity.”

An order naming McCaslin as the new Murdaugh judge was published on the State Supreme Court internet site just before noon Monday. It was signed by Chief Judge John Kittredge.

A 1990 graduate of the College of Charleston, McCaslin got her law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1993. She was in private practice as a defense attorney from 1995 to 2020, when she became a judge. She was recently elected for a second six-year term.

McCaslin is based in Lexington.

McCaslin, who is approximately 66 years old, oversaw the closely watched 2023 trial of Mexican restaurant operator Greg Leon, who was found guilty by a Lexington County jury of murdering his wife’s lover on Valentine’s Day.

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