Becky Hill's co-author Neil Gordon files complaint against TikTok 'Lawyer Lori' Murray
The co-author of a now-controversial book with Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill says he has filed a complaint alleging defamation and improper conduct against a lawyer turned TikToker.
Neil Gordon, co-author of “Behind The Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” announced Tuesday that he has filed an ethics complaint against a South Carolina attorney for "violations unbecoming of an officer of the court."
Attorney Lori Murray, who operates a TikTok Channel entitled “Lawyer Lori” that has more than 660,000 followers, is the target of this complaint.
According to a media statement, Gordon alleges that on Dec. 1 Murray recorded a five-minute, "expletive-laden video in which she divulged details of a leaked anonymous complaint" against Gordon’s co-author Hill, while also allegedly defaming Gordon and his wife, photographer Melissa Gordon.
This video was posted after Hill, previously accused of jury tampering in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, is now facing ethics complaints related to the possible misuse of her office and public funds.
“Murray has refused to name the source of the leaked report, which isn’t public record until the conclusion of an investigation,” Gordon said. “I believe Murray has violated the state bar code of conduct; an officer of the court should never divulge delicate information during an ongoing investigation. It’s behavior unbecoming of her esteemed profession. Couching her statements by putting the word ‘allegedly’ in front of them is no defense for her behavior.”
Gordon says his ethics complaint filed with the South Carolina Office of Disciplinary Counsel points to several false, defamatory statements Murray made during her video. Among them:
Murray claimed Melissa Gordon attended Alex Murdaugh’s trial for 30 days and that Ms. Hill gave her preferential treatment by allowing her a seat in court each day. Gordon contends that his wife attended the trial for four days total and waited in line like the rest of the spectators.
Murray claimed Gordon was given free rein to shoot pictures inside the courthouse and that she took a picture of surveillance video showing Alex Murdaugh reading a book in his jail cell during jury deliberations. Gordon responded by saying that his wife was not a designated pool photographer and therefore was not allowed to bring her camera into the courthouse or to take any pictures inside of the building.
“This is all important because Ms. Murray is falsely claiming we colluded with Becky Hill during the trial to write our book. That is patently false,” Gordon said. “As we’ve stated all along, Melissa didn’t meet Becky Hill until the trial was nearly over, and I didn’t meet her until three weeks after the jury’s verdict was in. Ms. Murray’s defamatory actions have caused my family a great deal of trauma. We hope the South Carolina bar sanctions her for her reckless behavior.”
During a live segment of Court TV Monday night, Gordon and Murray squared off on the matter. During the show, Gordon referenced a recent scandal involving actor Will Smith slapping actor Chris Rock when he said, "Keep my wife's name out of your mouth!"
Lawyer Lori responds to Neil Gordon's complaint
In a statement to The Hampton County Guardian, Murray acknowledged that she spoke about the allegations included in the ethics complaint against Hill and in doing so labeled them as only allegations and that her focus wasn't on the Gordons.
"I had no problem with Mr. Gordon. I had no problem with Melissa Gordon," Murray stated. "Nobody ever said he or she did anything wrong. They were a side note to an allegation against Ms. Hill. Honestly, I don't have a problem with Ms. Hill. But like it or not, the allegations against her are news and go directly to her credibility to testify at Murdaugh's hearing on whether he gets a new trial."
She added, "Mr. Gordon has seized this opportunity, because his wife's name was mentioned as a side note in an ethics complaint, to garner attention for himself and his book and to seek what I believe to be retribution for my bad review of his book. It's actually a win-win for him. He gets more attention for the awful book and he gets back at me for a bad book review in the process. As I have said many times, this isn't, wasn’t and never has been about Mr. Gordon."
Murray contends that ethical rules apply to lawyers when dealing with clients. Except in limited circumstances such as lawyers committing crimes or fraud, the rules do not dictate matters outside of representing clients or while acting as a public citizen as is the case here, she adds.
In her statement, Murray cited a portion of the ethical rules governing the conduct of attorneys:
As a public citizen, a lawyer should seek improvement of the law, access to the legal system, the administration of justice and the quality of service rendered by the legal profession. As a member of a learned profession, a lawyer should cultivate knowledge of the law beyond its use for clients, employ that knowledge in reform of the law and work to strengthen legal education. In addition, a lawyer should further the public's understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the justice system because legal institutions in a constitutional democracy depend on popular participation and support to maintain their authority. A lawyer should be mindful of deficiencies in the administration of justice and of the fact that the poor, and sometimes persons who are not poor, cannot afford adequate legal assistance. Therefore, all lawyers should devote professional time and resources and use civic influence to ensure equal access to our system of justice for all those who because of economic or social barriers cannot afford or secure adequate legal counsel. A lawyer should aid the legal profession in pursuing these objectives and should help the bar regulate itself in the public interest.
"I think if you ask any of my followers, they will agree this is exactly what I’ve done throughout my social media accounts - educate the public on legal matters. Including this one," stated Murray. "Mr. Gordon could have read the rules before filing a frivolous complaint. Mr. Gordon, as a journalist, should understand the First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech."
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Becky Hill's co-author files complaint against TikTok 'Lawyer Lori'
