What Are People Saying About Alex Murdaugh's Murder Convictions Being Overturned?
It was the stuff of Hollywood movies that spurred a flurry of true-crime docs and streaming-service series, captivating America's attention. The horrific double murder of 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh and his 52-year-old mother, Maggie Murdaugh, put South Carolina personal injury attorney Alex Murdaugh in the spotlight for an alleged (and gruesome) crime.
While Murdaugh was convicted of the double murder back in 2023 and given a life sentence, a judge recently overturned the order. And plenty of people have something to say about it.
Why Was Alex Murdaugh's Conviction Overturned?
On Wednesday, May 13, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned both of Murdaugh's murder convictions. If you're wondering how something like this could happen, you aren't alone. After CNNposted the breaking news story on Instagram, it was clear that the public was blindsided by this turn of events. One commenter wrote, "Wow, didn't see that coming," while another said, "I thought once a trial was done, you couldn't retry the case?"
So, what did happen? According to the court, Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill, "placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury." The state Supreme Court's decision continued, "Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh's motion for a new trial due to Hill's improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial."
All of that means that while he won't be released, Murdaugh will get a new trial for the murders of his wife and son.
The Public's Outrage at Alex Murdaugh's Verdict
Along with the initial shock, the public fiercely fired back against this new development. Outrage and disbelief took hold online, with the public pointing to one very specific possible reason for the reversal-money. One commenter wrote on Instagram, "Money is incredible," while others added, "There's two types of justice: one for the poor and one for the connected and privileged," "Rich people! Money is talking to someone," and "The only justice in America is for rich people."
The public didn't just flock to CNN's post. Social media lit up with opinions on the court's ruling. Commenters on Fox News' post wrote, "Where is the justice?" "Total joke" and "This should surprise exactly zero people. That money talks." Meanwhile, X users replied to The New York Times'coverage of the story, saying, "If you got money and power you can literally get away with murder" and, "justice in America is based on how much money you have to pay for your freedom."
Of course, these certainly weren't the only comments. While absolute anger and frustration are evident, it's also clear that everyone wants to know when the Murdaugh retrial will start. As of now, there is no official announcement on a new date.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 3:23 PM.