South Carolina

Can a Judge Have Facebook Friends? It Depends on What State They Work In

A recent legal ethics opinion concerning Florida judges made clear that they “friend”on Facebook at their peril lawyers who appear in their courtrooms. But a South Carolina legal ethics opinion on an similar subject seemingly takes a lighter view of such Internet social networking connections. It says that judges may…

Dec 16, 2009 12:47 AM CST

After AWOL Argentine Affair, Gov. Sanford Now Faces Ethics Charges Over Expenses

The governor of South Carolina is accused of taking illicit upgrades from coach to business or first class, as well as misusing government planes for personal purposes including a haircut, in 37 charges filed today by the state ethics commission. Gov. Mark Sanford has been scrutinized on multiple fronts after…

Nov 23, 2009 11:02 PM CST

Office ID May Have Helped Asst. AG Beat Ticket—But He’s Out of a Job

A 66-year-old assistant South Carolina attorney general wasn’t charged after being pulled over by a Columbia police officer Monday while allegedly driving with an 18-year-old “gentleman’s club” employee, sex toys and a prescription sexual enhancement drug in his vehicle during his lunch break. But within two hours Roland Corning was…

Oct 29, 2009 6:09 PM CDT

Want to Update Your Avvo Listing? If So, Start Policing Client Comments, Opinion Says

Updated: South Carolina lawyers tempted to update their listings on websites such as LinkedIn and Avvo should consider a new ethics opinion by the state bar’s Ethics Advisory Committee. The advisory opinion says lawyers who “claim” the website listing by clicking on an “update this listing” link or otherwise adopting…

Oct 28, 2009 4:36 PM CDT

Attorney Accused of Trying to Hire a Hit Man to Kill Another Lawyer

A 58-year-old South Carolina criminal defense attorney has been charged with solicitation of a felony for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill another attorney with whom he formerly shared a law office. Horry County Police say that Irby Walker talked repeatedly with a purported hit man, who…

Sep 18, 2009 7:14 PM CDT

As He Fights Murder Charge, Entrepreneur Sues Ex-Wife, Lawyer

A murder charge apparently hasn’t discouraged the founder of technology integration company SDI Networks from participating in the justice system. John Ludwig Jr. of Greenville, S.C., was charged with murder in May after he crashed his Maserati into a home, killing a man inside who was watching television, according to…

Aug 13, 2009 7:00 PM CDT

Mom Accused of Neglecting 555-Pound Son by Overfeeding Him

The arrest of a woman accused of allowing her 14-year-old son to reach 555 pounds raises the issue: Does allowing a child to become dangerously overweight amount to criminal neglect? Jerri Gray of Travelers Rest, S.C., was charged in June and her son, Alexander Draper, was put in foster care,…

Jul 21, 2009 2:36 PM CDT

S.C. Gov’s AWOL Argentine Affair Sparks Constitutional Discussions

Updated: In fact, Mark Sanford, the South Carolina governor whose whereabouts were unknown for a week, wasn’t hiking the Appalachian Trail, as his staff had earlier suggested. He was in Argentina with his mistress, as he now admits, according to numerous media reports. And, as news of the affair by…

Jun 24, 2009 10:23 PM CDT

S.C. Prosecutor Who Handled State’s Most ‘Notorious’ Cases Has Died at 40

The death of one of South Carolina’s most dogged prosecutors has left the Palmetto State in disbelief. Jennifer Evans, who headed the state attorney general’s criminal section and was the chief prosecutor for the state grand jury, died suddenly across the border in North Carolina over the weekend. She was…

Jun 23, 2009 11:03 AM CDT

Top S.C. Court Tells State Gov to Take $700M in Federal Stimulus Money

Siding with South Carolina legislators in a budgetary power play with the state’s chief executive, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered Gov. Mark Sanford to accept $700 million in federal stimulus money that lawmakers included in the state spending plan. Sanford opposed accepting the money, which will be used…

Jun 4, 2009 10:07 PM CDT

Federal Judge Grants Craigslist Injunction Against South Carolina AG

A federal judge in South Carolina has granted an injunction sought by Craigslist Inc. in a declaratory judgment action against the state’s attorney general. U.S. District Judge Weston Houck today ordered AG Henry McMaster “to refrain from initiating or pursuing any prosecution against Craigslist or its officers,” reports the Associated…

May 22, 2009 9:45 PM CDT

Craigslist Sues South Carolina AG in Showdown Over Erotic Services Ads

Threatened with potential criminal prosecution over its role in allegedly promoting prostitution through Internet ads posted by third parties on its website, Craiglist Inc. has responded with a pre-emptive strike. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in South Carolina today, the national classified advertising website seeks a declaratory judgment…

May 20, 2009 10:44 PM CDT

South Carolina Supreme Court Temporarily Bars Foreclosures

The South Carolina Supreme Court has temporarily barred some foreclosures in the state to give homeowners more time to seek loan modifications under a federal program. The injunction appears to be the first in the nation to delay foreclosures in an entire state, the Associated Press reports. It applies to…

May 6, 2009 2:53 PM CDT

Lawyer Who Survived Hudson River Plane Landing Changes Careers

A South Carolina lawyer says his decision to change careers had nothing to do with the Hudson River landing of US Airways Flight 1549. Mike Nunn tells SCNow.com that surviving the water landing was a life-changing experience. But it didn’t spur his decision to give up private law practice to…

May 1, 2009 12:43 PM CDT

Prof’s Tragedy Inspires Law Grads to Seek Spirit of True Success

Colin Colverson thought he’d made a good career move by shifting from home building to law school just before the recession hit. Now he’s on the verge of graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law. And about all he has to show for it, right now, in…

Apr 17, 2009 5:50 PM CDT