Top federal Murdaugh prosecutor to leave post, become magistrate judge

She nailed the big ones.

And now, Emily Limehouse, the lead federal prosecutor in the Alex Murdaugh financial crimes investigation, will be leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office.

But she won’t go far - she is to become a U.S. magistrate judge in Charleston. That is a type of federal judge one step below the federal trial judges. A magistrate judge handles initial criminal court proceedings, sets bonds +and issues search warrants when law enforcement provides evidence such a warrant is needed. They also handle a wide variety of other judicial matters.

The pay is approximately $229,000.

In her 10-year career with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Limehouse, 37, played a key role in prosecuting complex financial fraud and public corruption cases, including heading a three-person team in a nationally prominent case that got fraud indictments, successful convictions and prison sentences against now-disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh and his accomplices: lawyer Corey Fleming and banker Russell Laffitte.

“Emily was a formidable opponent - intelligent, exceptionally well-prepared and unwavering in her advocacy,” said Debbie Barbier, a former federal prosecutor and current defense attorney who represented Fleming in the fraud case against Limehouse and her team.

“While we often found ourselves on opposite sides of difficult cases, I always respected her professionalism, work ethic and legal talent. She will undoubtably bring those same qualities to the bench,” Barbier said.

Recently, Limehouse helped lead investigations into city council alleged corruption in North Charleston and a child sex abuse case involving a now-former Charleston County magistrate. She also was part of the U.S. attorney teams that handled the prosecution of SCANA and Westinghouse officials in the aftermath of the 2017 $9 billion failure of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion.

Earlier this year, before she was tapped for a federal magistrate’s post, Limehouse was promoted to be chief of the criminal division for all criminal cases in the U.S. attorney’s office in South Carolina.

Unlike other federal judges, who are nominated by the president and go through a public confirmation, magistrate judges are chosen by the federal judges of a state in a nonpublic process involving interviews and an examination of candidates’ accomplishments and fitness for the job. In Limehouse’s case, she was said to be the best qualified of the candidates.

Currently, because of potential conflicts, Limehouse - who won’t assume the post of magistrate judge until early next year - has stepped out of her criminal chief role.

Limehouse will be replacing Mary Gordon Baker, who is retiring, and is expected to be based in Charleston.

“We had to kind of have her step back. Anything the office had when she was criminal chief, she would be conflicted off of handling as a magistrate,” said U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Bryan Stirling.

In Limehouse’s current post, senior litigation counsel, there aren’t nearly as many potential conflicts, Stirling said. Meanwhile, assistant U.S. attorney Elliott Daniels is now criminal chief.

Stirling said the office will miss Limehouse, who was widely respected. “The quality of her work was unequaled. Her work ethic was unstoppable, and she mentored young lawyers. The court has gained an incredible lawyer and scholar. She’ll do a great job for the Charleston district.”

Brook Andrews, former acting U.S. attorney and now in private practice, said Limehouse “was one of the best I ever worked with. She represents the highest ideals and achievements that the public can hope for in a federal prosecutor. I know she is going to bring that same intellect, integrity and energy to the bench.”

Limehouse is one-half of a power legal couple.

She is married to Thomas Limehouse, who was Gov. Henry McMaster’s chief legal counsel (top lawyer) for eight years and who is now a private attorney in Charleston. Thomas Limehouse is also a member of the State Ports Authority Board of Directors.

Emily Limehouse, a 2014 graduate of University of South Carolina Rice School of Law, declined comment for this article.