Case Title: In Re Sherrill

Citation: 328 N.C. 719, 403 S.E.2d 255

Docket Number: 607A90

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1991-05-02T00:00:00Z

Document:
403 S.E.2d 255 (1991)
328 N.C. 719
In re Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 137, W. Terry SHERRILL, Respondent.
No. 607A90.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.
May 2, 1991.
*256 PER CURIAM.
The issue before this Court, as a result of the recommendation of the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission (hereinafter "Commission"), concerns whether certain conduct by the respondent, W. Terry Sherrill, was willful misconduct in office or "conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute," within the meaning of N.C. G.S. § 7A-376, justifying his removal from office with the resulting statutory disqualification from receiving retirement benefits and holding further judicial office. Neither the Commission nor the respondent submitted briefs to this Court addressing that issue.
The facts giving rise to the Commission's recommendation that the respondent be removed from office are not in dispute. The Commission, meeting in Raleigh on 30 November 1990, considered the case against the respondent based upon the complaint previously filed by the Special Counsel for the Commission and the respondent's answer. Findings of fact were stipulated to by the respondent, his counsel and the Special Counsel for the Commission, as follows:
The Commission concluded "that the actions of the respondent constitute willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute and his actions violate Canons 1 and 2A of the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct, the laws of the State of North Carolina, and his oath of office." Based upon the stipulated findings of fact and its conclusions relating thereto, the Commission, on 12 December 1990, recommended "that the Supreme Court remove the respondent and disqualify him from holding further judicial office."
We first note that the respondent tendered his resignation from his judicial office on 19 March 1990. However, the tender of his resignation did not deprive the Commission or this Court of jurisdiction. Prior to the respondent's tender of his resignation, the Commission had notified him that formal proceedings had been instituted against him, and he had been served personally with that notice and a copy of the verified complaint specifying the charges against him. Therefore, the Commission and this Court retained jurisdiction over the respondent and the charges against him. In re Hunt, 308 N.C. 328, 302 S.E.2d 235 (1983); In re Peoples, 296 N.C. 109, 250 S.E.2d 890 (1978), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 929, 99 S. Ct. 2859, 61 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1979). We further note that the issues raised in this disciplinary proceeding have not become moot by reason of the respondent's tender of his resignation. Peoples, 296 N.C. at 151, 250 S.E.2d  at 914. This Court is still required to decide whether the respondent's conduct merits his removal from office in order to determine whether the additional sanctions specified in N.C.G.S. § 7A-376 are to be imposed. Id.
Turning to the issues presented by the Commission's recommendation, this Court concludes that the Commission's findings of fact were supported by the findings of fact stipulated to by the respondent. Therefore, we accept the Commission's findings and adopt them as our own. Based upon those findings and the recommendation of the Commission, we conclude and adjudge that the respondent's conduct constituted willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute, for which he should be removed from office. Therefore, it is ordered by the Supreme Court of North Carolina, in conference, that the respondent, W. Terry Sherrill, be, and he is hereby, officially removed from office as a judge of the General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division. As a consequence of his removal from office, the respondent, W. Terry Sherrill, is disqualified by statute from holding further judicial office and is ineligible for retirement benefits. N.C.G.S. § 7A-376 (1989).