Opinion ID: 1343569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Assistant Solicitor

Text: Appellant contends the trial judge erred in denying his motion to disqualify Assistant Solicitor Knox McMahon. Two weeks before trial, McMahon had taken a position in another judicial circuit. Appellant argues under S.C.Code Ann. § 1-7-350 (1986) only the Attorney General has the authority to appoint a solicitor to prosecute a case outside of his circuit. At trial, appellant objected on the ground McMahon had no statutory authority to appear. On appeal, he contends this violated his equal protection and due process rights. Appellant is limited to the grounds raised at trial. Bailey, supra (cannot argue one ground below and another on appeal). The absence of a constitutional ground leaves the matter to resolution by us on the basis of South Carolina law, consonant with the wide discretion accorded the trial judge in securing a fair and impartial trial. It also places upon the moving party the burden of showing actual prejudice from the failure to disqualify. State v. Goodwin, 250 S.C. 403, 158 S.E.2d 195 (1967). In Goodwin, the defendant complained that an assistant solicitor who had previously worked as a public defender and prepared a pretrial brief on his behalf should be disqualified from prosecuting his case. We affirmed the denial of the motion to disqualify because the defendant could not show any prejudice. Here, appellant's grounds for disqualifying McMahon do not even reach the level found in Goodwin. Further, appellant has not alleged any actual prejudice from McMahon's participation in the trial. This issue is without merit.