Judge Clifton Newman: A look at the man behind the gavel in the Alex Murdaugh trial
Former South Carolina attorney and now-convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's trial captured the attention of the true crime world and the nation, but another name made headlines and trended on social media almost as much, Judge Clifton Newman.
Newman won over many people who tuned into the double homicide trial of Murdaugh. But just who is the South Carolina judge and what has made him so popular that people are pondering if he could have his own television show to crocheting his likeness as a doll?
Here's a look at the man on the bench, his rise in prominence and what he has been up to since delivering two consecutive life sentences to Murdaugh.
Who is South Carolina Judge Clifton Newman?
Now a S.C. Circuit Court judge, Newman was born in 1951 in rural Williamsburg County in South Carolina, a little more than 100 miles north of where he presided over the Murdaugh trial in Walterboro, S.C., The Post and Courier reported in a profile of the judge last year. At the age of three, his mother moved to New York to take a job as a domestic worker for a Columbia University professor’s family, leaving him in the care of his grandparents and an aunt.
During his school years, Newman attended racially segregated schools in the 1950s and 1960s. From high school, Newman earned an undergraduate degree from Cleveland State University and graduated from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. He began practicing law in Cleveland before returning to South Carolina in 1982 to start a private law practice.
Newman served as a defense attorney, a civil practitioner and a prosecutor before 2000 when the state General Assembly elected him to serve as a Circuit Court judge.
“To come from a rural community, a farming community, and to go from that scenario to playing the role of a lawyer was quite inspiring,” Newman told the American Bar Association in 2017.
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Clifton Newman's time presiding over the Murdaugh case wins over social media
As the Murdaugh trial went on Newman's name began to pop up in social media posts with people looking for information and praising him for his conduct on the bench while presiding over the double-homicide trial.
Please join me in raising a glass in honor of Judge Clifton Newman.
Does anyone disagree that he sets the gold standard for how a judge conducts a trial?
He is 72 this year and subject to mandatory retirement. This may be his last time on the big stage, but I'm hopeful the chief… https://t.co/rXDhYdDKG9— Pete Strom (@petestrom) March 3, 2023
Remember..Judge Clifton Newman, was as unaware of #AlexMurdaugh's lies as everyone else was, only learning about some of them in the Grand Jury proceedings. He found out about Paul's 'kennel video' when we did. Judge Newman has know Alex since birth. So sad. Love this Judge 👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/aLmSSYzoh7
— Carolyn (@SpinningMyWebb) March 4, 2023
Even when he has to deliver bad news, he's the nicest person. Judge Clifton Newman dismissed a juror for having improper conversations about evidence in the Alex Murdaugh Trial.
"You were a great juror, smiled consistently, but I am going to have to remove you." @Live5News pic.twitter.com/ib40xuMmnh— Ann McGill (@AnnLive5News) March 2, 2023
While we are talking about this case let’s not forget a black man is leading the way….IN SOUTH CAROLINA that’s big….#BlackJudge #CliftonNewman
— ISAAC WILSON III (D-SC) (@politicalsigma) March 3, 2023
Newman's son died before the start of the Murdaugh trial
Newman’s 40-year-old son, Brian, died just weeks before the Murdaugh trial that pulled Newman away from his home for more than a month.
During Murdaugh's sentencing, Newman's statement about Paul Murdaugh was one of many small remarks that resounded loudly with many.
“For the murder of Paul Murdaugh, whom you probably loved so much, I sentence you to prison for murdering him for the rest of your natural life,” Newman said.
Some much-needed downtime for Murdaugh trial judge at USC basketball game
Over the weekend, Newman took some much deserved down time at the SEC women's basketball tournament that the Gamecocks were playing in Greenville, S.C., on Sunday. He was spotted in the crowd by several people who grabbed a photo with the well-known judge.
Judge Clifton Newman is in the house to support his @GamecockWBB in Greenville.
A warm welcome from fellow fans after he presided over the state’s case & conviction of Alex Murdaugh for the murder of his wife Maggie & his son Paul. pic.twitter.com/9pLsognQ0w— Beth Hoole (@bethhooleVNL) March 5, 2023
Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, in attendance at today’s SEC women’s basketball tournament championship to cheer on South Carolina.
Had a long line of folks taking photos with him. pic.twitter.com/TPdou0fD4n— Emily Adams (@eaadams6) March 5, 2023
Love for Newman inspires dolls
Newman's presence on the bench even inspired one viewer to make his likeness in doll form.
My own little Justice League… 😊 pic.twitter.com/WewstRa2Qv
— Stephanie Truesdale (@stephjtruesdale) March 5, 2023
The crocheted dolls included Newman; Creighton Water, the lead prosecutor in all of the criminal cases involving Murdaugh; Dr. Kenneth Kinsey, a criminology professor as well as a law enforcement officer; Bubba the dog; and the chicken.
People have gushed over the dolls after they were posted by Stephanie Truesdale.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Murdaugh trial Judge Clifton Newman's rise to fame after sentencing