In re Hall

588 S.E.2d 598, 356 S.C. 257, 2003 S.C. LEXIS 257
CourtSupreme Court of South Carolina
DecidedOctober 27, 2003
DocketNo. 25741
StatusPublished

This text of 588 S.E.2d 598 (In re Hall) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Hall, 588 S.E.2d 598, 356 S.C. 257, 2003 S.C. LEXIS 257 (S.C. 2003).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

In this judicial disciplinary matter, respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an Agreement for Discipline by Consent pursuant to Rule 21, RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent admits misconduct and consents to the issuance of an admonition or a public reprimand or the imposition of a definite suspension for a period to be determined by this Court. We accept the agreement and impose a one year suspension. The facts as set forth in the agreement are as follows.

[258]*258 Facts

Respondent was ticketed for failing to use turn signals during lane changes in violation of S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-2150. At the trial on the charges, respondent made untruthful statements regarding statements made to him by the arresting officer. Respondent attempted to exclude audio and video recordings of the traffic stop that showed the officer did not make the statements attributed to him by respondent. Finally, respondent was held in contempt for his gestures and behavior during the prosecution’s closing argument after being admonished earlier for making signs of agreement or disagreement with questions asked or statements made during the proceeding.

Law

Respondent admits that he has violated the following provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 501, SCACR: Canon 1 (a judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary) and Canon 2(A)(a judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary). Respondent also admits that these allegations constitute grounds for discipline pursuant to Rules 7(a)(1) and (7), RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR.

Conclusion

We find respondent’s misconduct warrants a suspension from judicial duties. We therefore accept the Agreement for Discipline by Consent and impose a one year suspension.

DEFINITE SUSPENSION.

s/ Jean H. Toal, C.J.

s/ James E. Moore, J.

s/ John H. Waller, Jr., J.

s/ E.C. Burnett, III, J.

s/ Costa M. Pleicones, J.

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Related

§ 56-5-2150
South Carolina § 56-5-2150

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Bluebook (online)
588 S.E.2d 598, 356 S.C. 257, 2003 S.C. LEXIS 257, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-hall-sc-2003.