Opinion ID: 1382143
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Chandler Matter

Text: Matthew Chandler was ticketed for careless operation of a motor vehicle in violation of a Hanahan ordinance. Chandler appeared in court on the date specified on the ticket. He testified at the panel hearing that he intended to plead guilty, and had the $140 fine money with him. Pursuant to the wellestablished procedure followed in the Hanahan Municipal Court, the respondent opened court by inviting all those present who wished to plead guilty to come forward and form a line. When Chandler got to the head of the line, the respondent asked him how he wished to plead. Chandler testified he said guilty, then started to explain the circumstances surrounding his arrest. The respondent interrupted Chandler and asked him again how he wished to plea, and I said guilty and he looked around a little bit and then told me to go ahead and leave. The municipal court clerk testified that once Chandler left the courtroom, the respondent turned to her and asked if she knew who Chandler was. When she said no, the respondent told her the defendant was the son of Jeff Chandler, a Hanahan city council member. The panel found the respondent directed the clerk to write `dismissed' on Chandler's ticket, and to stamp it, Dismissed on Motion of State. Neither the arresting officer (Chanceley), who was not yet present in the courtroom, nor the town prosecutor, was aware of the dismissal. At the hearing, the respondent testified that Chandler said he wanted to plead guilty, but then started to say more. According to his testimony, the respondent stopped Chandler, looked for Officer Chanceley, and then dismissed the case since he did not see Chanceley in the courtroom. He denied saying anything to the clerk. [1] On cross-examination, the respondent acknowledged he departed from standard operating procedure in the Chandler case by (1) not telling the defendant to step aside if he was not pleading guilty, and (2) not having someone look for Officer Chanceley before dismissing the charge.