Scott Hart Joins Esteemed Panel on Legal Ethics Featuring Murdaugh Trial Judge

Sumrell Sugg Managing Attorney Scott Hart was recently honored to participate in a distinguished panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA). The session, titled “Lessons from the Murdaugh Case: Civil Actions, Ethics, and Responsibility,” focused on the intersection of legal ethics, civil litigation, and the professional responsibilities attorneys bear in today’s complex legal environment.

In addition to Scott, this event featured a dynamic group of panelists, including Ashley Bartolucci, Ethics and Compliance Counsel for the Mecklenburg County Bar; Laura Loyek, Claims Counsel with Lawyers Mutual of North Carolina; and the Honorable Judge Clifton Newman, best known for presiding over the widely publicized criminal trial of Alex Murdaugh in South Carolina.

Judge Newman shared powerful reflections on the high-profile case, offering a rare, firsthand account of the legal proceedings, ethical dilemmas, and public scrutiny surrounding one of the most sensational trials in recent history. His commentary provided a compelling foundation for further discussion.

Scott Hart | Managing Partner at Sumrell Sugg Attorneys At Law

Following Judge Newman’s remarks, Scott and his fellow panelists explored how the Murdaugh case highlights key ethical responsibilities—particularly those related to client trust accounting, transparency, conflicts of interest, and the broader duty of attorneys to uphold integrity within the profession. Scott contributed practical insights grounded in North Carolina’s Rules of Professional Conduct and emphasized the importance of proactive ethical decision-making in both litigation and transactional practice.

The panel served as a valuable forum for legal professionals to reflect on how high-profile missteps can affect public trust in the justice system—and how attorneys in North Carolina can learn from such cases to better serve their clients and communities.

Sumrell Sugg is proud of Scott’s role in this important conversation, which underscores the firm’s enduring commitment to professional excellence and ethical leadership in the legal field.

Sumrell Sugg, P.A. is a regional legal firm that provides clients with first-rate services in a cost-effective manner. Whether clients are individuals, corporations, or local governments and municipalities, our firm delivers on an undeviating promise of service. For more information, visit us at www.nclawyers.com.