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Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
2023 Murder Trialtrial-daytrial-dayJury Selection Day 1 - January 23, 2023Three jury panels were screened for media exposure, fixed opinions, personal and witness ties, hardships, and disqualifications, producing multiple excusals while other prospective jurors remained qualified.
2023 Murder TrialJury Selection Day 2 →

Jury Selection Day 1 - January 23, 2023

Jury qualification tests fixed opinions, personal ties, and witness bias

Judge Clifton B. Newman
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Jury Selection Day 1

Three jury panels were screened for media exposure, fixed opinions, personal and witness ties, hardships, and disqualifications, producing multiple excusals while other prospective jurors remained qualified.

Full day summary

Judge Clifton Newman opened jury qualification by identifying the case, swearing the prospective jurors, and directing them to complete questionnaires under oath. Across three panels, the court examined extensive media exposure, formed opinions, relationships with the Murdaugh family and prospective witnesses, law-enforcement connections, hardships, and legal qualifications. Prospective jurors were excused when they reported fixed views, specific witness bias, family involvement in related litigation, hardship, or disqualification. Juror 319 was excused after saying his relationship with prospective witness Rogan Gibson would influence his assessment of Gibson's testimony. Juror 705 remained in the pool after disclosing professional and social contacts but affirming that he could decide the case from the evidence. Qualified jurors were instructed not to discuss, research, or follow media coverage of the case.

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1. Jury Voir Dire

Jury qualification began with sworn questionnaires and voir dire addressing media exposure, impartiality, personal connections, qualifications, and hardships across three prospective-juror panels.

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Procedural
Opening Court Proceedings

The court swore the first jury panel, administered a two-page questionnaire, and began the qualification roll call.

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Jury Voir Dire - Panel One

The court screened Panel One for publicity exposure, fixed opinions, and personal connections, excusing several jurors and conducting individual follow-up before qualifying the remainder.

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Jury Voir Dire - Panel Two

Panel Two underwent publicity, impartiality, relationship, and hardship screening, followed by individual questioning that produced several excusals and qualification decisions.

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Jury Voir Dire - Panel Three

Panel Three disclosed extensive publicity exposure, community and witness ties, hardships, and qualification issues; the court excused several prospective jurors and returned Juror 705 to the pool after individual questioning.

Highlights

Jury Voir Dire - Panel Onejury eventAfter several panelists disclosed opinions about guilt or innocence, the court excused Jurors 52, 30, and 44 because they indicated their views were too fixed to decide the case solely on courtroom evidence and the court's instructions.Jury Voir Dire - Panel OnerulingDuring individual voir dire, Juror 26 clarified that a prior conflict with prospective witness Jason Chapman would make the juror partial against Chapman's testimony, and the court released the juror from service.Jury Voir Dire - Panel One“I was. Voluntarily, Chapman kind of testified against me falsely. It didn't stick, didn't get prosecuted, but I knew the man personally and after that, it became personal.”— Unidentified Juror (No. 26)Juror 26 described the prior conflict that led to further questioning about bias toward Chapman.Jury Voir Dire - Panel OnerulingJuror 43 disclosed that Mallory Beach was a cousin and that the juror's family was involved in litigation concerning the Murdaughs; the court excused the juror.Jury Voir Dire - Panel One“I didn't say it earlier. My family is involved with the lawsuit with the Murdaugh suit. Mallory Beach was my cousin.”— Unidentified Juror (No. 43)Juror 43 disclosed a close family connection to separate litigation involving the Murdaughs.Jury Voir Dire - Panel Two“I think I would go with whatever he says.”— Unidentified JurorJuror 319 acknowledged that his relationship to prospective witness Rogan Gibson could determine how he assessed Gibson's testimony.Jury Voir Dire - Panel TworulingDuring individual voir dire, Jurors 439, 403, and 251 each described opinions they could not confidently set aside, and the court excused them.Jury Voir Dire - Panel TworulingThe parties disputed Juror 319's qualification because of his relationship to prospective witness Rogan Gibson and his stated inclination to accept whatever Gibson said; after further questioning, the court excused the juror.Jury Voir Dire - Panel Threejury eventJuror 705 disclosed professional contact with emergency responders, treatment of a prospective witness, and a brief social encounter with Alex Murdaugh's brother, but said he could decide the case from the evidence. Both sides agreed to return him to the jury pool.
2023 Murder TrialJury Selection Day 2 →