In a hilarious reality check for the Lowcountry legal elite, Alex Murdaugh’s defense team has officially rage-quit their battle to get their client dressed in civilian clothes for his upcoming televised hearings. The disgraced, double-convicted former lawyer wanted to ditch the orange jumpsuit and shackles to look like a free man during pretrial status conferences. But after state prosecutors thoroughly roasted the request as an attempt to secure country-club treatment, the defense folded on June 25, 2026, and withdrew the motion.

Murdaugh’s high-priced lawyers, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, tried to spin the surrender by accusing the state of trying to turn the courtroom into a "public spectacle." In a filing dripping with salt, the defense wrote, "If the State wants to use that for a public spectacle, so be it. Mr. Murdaugh will not waste the Court’s time at the upcoming status conference arguing about the optics." Translating from lawyer-speak: they realized they were about to get publicly embarrassed by the state’s security arguments and decided to take their ball and go home.

South Carolina prosecutors were having absolutely none of the defense's elite whining. They urged a Colleton County judge to shut down the motion immediately, reminding everyone that Murdaugh's family dynasty and local fame don't buy him a get-out-of-shackles-free card. "This case is ultimately about the fact that Defendant thinks he is special. He is not," prosecutors wrote. It’s a rare moment of state prosecutors stating pure facts: Murdaugh is currently just another number in the system.

The state pointed directly to the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) rulebook, which says inmates don't get a custom wardrobe for court dates. "SCDC’s practice and position here is that any inmate should remain in restraints and in uniform for court appearances," the state wrote. They argued that Murdaugh’s long-term sentences, the heavy nature of the double-murder charges, and his status as a true-crime celebrity make him a massive security risk who needs to be kept on a tight leash.

Lest anyone forget, Murdaugh is already locked down for a very long time, regardless of how his murder retrial pans out. He is currently serving a massive 27-year state prison sentence for swindling millions in financial crimes, plus a concurrent 40-year federal stretch for the same corrupt hustle. His lawyers tried to act like he’s a clean slate because his murder convictions were thrown out in May 2026, but the state was quick to remind them that his white-collar crime sentences are still active and binding.