Advocate Discipline

South Carolina, United States

Richard Alexander Murdaugh: disciplinary decision

Decision, 12 July 2022On 12 July 2022 the Supreme Court of South Carolina, in Appellate Case No. 2022-000812, stated "we hereby disbar Respondent Richard Alexander Murdaugh from the practice of law in South Carolina."1,2

Supreme Court of South Carolina

What the decision found

The court said Murdaugh had admitted in court proceedings and filings to financial misconduct, including theft from his former law firm, and to liability for the theft of 4,305,000 US dollars in settlement funds. The court said its decision rested on "our constitutional authority and duty to protect the public." Live 5 News reported that the court cited his "admitted reprehensible misconduct."1,2

Response

According to the court, Murdaugh conceded by affidavit that disbarment was warranted, waived a hearing and said he did not contest the court's "authority and decision."1,2

Appeal and later events

Murdaugh did not contest the disbarment. No later order on his law licence was found in the sources reviewed.1

Status now

Disbarred in South Carolina by order of 12 July 2022, per the court opinion.1

This site covers only lawyers whose cases were widely reported and decided in published rulings. Each record states the decision exactly as the body made it, and any appeal or later change.

Sources

  1. Supreme Court of South Carolina (via FindLaw Caselaw), In re Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Appellate Case No. 2022-000812 (12 July 2022)
  2. Live 5 News (WCSC), SC Supreme Court disbars Murdaugh (12 July 2022)