Court finds former clerk’s misconduct did not cause Murdaugh’s legal defense costs — but leaves door open to future claims. The ruling (.pdf) represents an early procedural victory for Hill – but stops short of foreclosing future litigation arising from Murdaugh’s retrial. § 1983, alleged Hill violated Murdaugh’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights by improperly communicating with jurors during his six-week murder trial. Regardless of Hill’s later misconduct, the court reasoned, Murdaugh still would have needed to hire attorneys and fund his defense. Instead, the alleged constitutional violation occurred during an already pending murder trial.