In re Richland County Magistrate Stocker

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court reviews two Agreements for Discipline by Consent involving a Richland County magistrate. The court finds misconduct involving delays in handling cases, improper ex parte communications, conflicts of interest, intervention in a criminal matter, and unauthorized contempt proceedings. It imposes a public reprimand under the first agreement and a thirty-day suspension from judicial duties under the second.

Holdings

1. The court accepted Agreement 1 and imposed a public reprimand for respondent's misconduct involving delayed judicial action, inadequate office supervision and communication, and failure to timely perform official duties.
2. The court accepted Agreement 2 and imposed a definite suspension of thirty days from judicial duties for respondent's misuse of judicial office, ex parte communications, improper involvement in a criminal matter involving a relative, unauthorized contempt order and incarceration, and other judicial misconduct.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the misconduct admitted in Agreement 1 warranted a public reprimand.
2. Whether the misconduct admitted in Agreement 2 warranted a thirty-day suspension from judicial duties.
3. Whether the two Agreements for Discipline by Consent should be accepted.

Disposition

other