In the Matter of Former Abbeville County Magistrate George T. Ferguson

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court accepted an Agreement for Discipline by Consent and publicly reprimanded former Abbeville County Magistrate George T. Ferguson. The reprimand followed his guilty pleas to two counts of misconduct in office involving improper benefits and sexual contact with individuals appearing before him, and his agreement not to seek or accept another South Carolina judicial position without the Court's permission.

Holdings

1. The court accepted the Agreement for Discipline by Consent after the respondent admitted misconduct and consented to discipline.
2. The respondent was publicly reprimanded and prohibited from seeking or accepting another judicial position in South Carolina without the Supreme Court's express written permission after written notice to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court should accept the respondent's Agreement for Discipline by Consent.
2. What disciplinary sanction should be imposed on a former magistrate who admitted violating multiple provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules for Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement.

Disposition

other