Solicitor: Data dump prolongs jail death investigation
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina prosecutor investigating the jail death of a mentally ill Black man said Wednesday that the sheriff’s office has finally turned over more information in the case, nearly seven months after the incident occurred. Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Wednesday that Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has handed over […]
Get there fast, take it slow
Solicitor Dan Johnson, chief law enforcement official in two Midlands counties, is out of a job, dethroned by a Columbia lawyer, Byron Gipson, who has never held public office. Just weeks ago, Johnson was seemingly a lock to win the Democratic primary and faced no Republican opposition. But man—life comes at you fast. First, Johnson […]
Solicitor recuses self from congressman gun case
COLUMBIA (AP) A prosecutor who was asked to file charges against a South Carolina congressman who pulled out his own loaded handgun during a constituent meeting is recusing himself from the case. Solicitor Kevin Brackett said in a letter released to reporters April 9 that he couldn’t take the case because of a “personal friendship” with […]
Prosecutor won’t give officers’ names in police shootings
GREENVILLE (AP) A prosecutor in South Carolina said he will no longer release the names of police officers who shoot at people unless they are criminally charged because they deserve the same right of privacy as a regular citizen. But police shooting and free press experts said Solicitor Walt Wilkins’ policy for Greenville and Pickens […]
Sound of silence: Docket control committee seeks direction from quiet Supreme Court
Members of the committee that was formed for the purpose of solving South Carolina’s docket control problem are frustrated with a lack of direction and action from a state Supreme Court that seems to have gone silent. The committee’s last meeting occurred more than a year ago. It’s been so long since the group met […]
Too late
Remember when the South Carolina Supreme Court declared that the state’s solicitor-controlled criminal docket was unconstitutional. That happened in November 2012, when the court issued the Langford decision. Two years, nine months and a few weeks later, solicitors are still very much in control of the docket – a power that defense lawyers say has […]
Criminal Practice – PCR – Constitutional – Effective Assistance – Prosecutor’s Summation – Jury Instructions
Sigmon v. State Even though, in his closing argument at appellant’s trial, the solicitor articulated why he chose to seek the death penalty, the solicitor did not equate his role with that of the jury. Furthermore, the closing argument as a whole emphasized the important role the jury played in determining the appropriate sentence. Trial counsel was not ineffective in failing to object[...]
Court in session: When the judge says so – not the solicitor
Now that South Carolina’s solicitors no longer have the exclusive authority to schedule criminal cases for trial – bringing the state in line with the rest of the nation – many are wondering how difficult it’s going to be to implement the new court-controlled docket system.
Business Law
- Economy forces attorneys to get down to business
- Business Court judges trawl for customers
- Va. company's Web site did not subject business to personal jurisdiction in S.C., appeals panel rules
- Former running back from S.C. wins courtroom victory in contract dispute
- Contract – Government Contract – Qui Tam – False Claims Act
- Licenses & Permits – Beer & Wine Permit – Restrictive Covenant – Suitable Location
- Consumer Protection – FCRA – Auto Loan – Bank Accounting Errors
- Licenses & Permits – Veterinarian – Vaccine Maintenance
- Tort – Business Tort – Va. Computer Crimes Act – Trade Secrets
- Textile firm, railroad settle Graniteville train wreck lawsuit
- State regulators look at car dealer accused of lying to customers
- Subprime mortgage meltdown hits securities law
Commentary
- Virginia Tech student got due process in hearing
- High court justices cross the line of propriety
- High court’s term was rough on big business
- The flip side of generative AI in law and how to address it
- The fight for equal educational opportunity continues
- Letter From The Editor – Working from Home
- NLRB joins FTC in taking aim at non-competes
- Supreme Court leaves key internet protection untouched
- US Supreme Court bites back at parody’s use of the First Amendment
- My goal: Provide the information that you need now
- Case study: North Carolina courts provide guidance on scope, limitations of attorney-client privilege
- A Different Ode to Pro Bono Work