Court Opinion

ID: 4710460
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-11 14:24:12.065497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:07:03.531560
License: Public Domain

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
                        In The Supreme Court

            In the Matter of Magistrate Jerry Fletcher Rivers of
            Florence County Magistrate's Court, Respondent.

            Appellate Case No. 2021-000305

                              Opinion No. 28049
                Submitted June 21, 2021 – Filed August 11, 2021

                           DEFINITE SUSPENSION

            Disciplinary Counsel John S. Nichols and Deputy
            Disciplinary Counsel Carey Taylor Markel, both of
            Columbia, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

            Jerry Fletcher Rivers, of Florence, Pro Se.

PER CURIAM: In this judicial disciplinary matter, Respondent and the Office
of Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an Agreement for Discipline by Consent
pursuant to Rule 21 of the Rules for Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement (RJDE)
contained in Rule 502 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules (SCACR). In
the Agreement, Respondent admits misconduct, consents to the imposition of up to
a six-month definite suspension, and agrees to complete anger management
counseling. We accept the Agreement, suspend Respondent from office for six
months, and require Respondent to complete anger management counseling. The
facts, as set forth in the Agreement, are as follows.

                                         I.

On May 14, 2020, the Chief Magistrate for Florence County scheduled a meeting
with the magistrates and clerks to discuss the Covid-19 safety plan for re-opening
magistrates' courts to the public in accordance with this Court's April 30, 2020
Order concerning Statewide Evictions and Foreclosures. During the meeting,
Respondent began asking questions repeatedly, speaking in a loud voice and
challenging the Chief Magistrate's Covid-19 safety plan for reopening. As the
meeting continued, Respondent became visibly agitated, reading aloud portions of
the April 30, 2020 Order and challenging the Chief Magistrate's implementation
plan. At one point during the meeting another magistrate in attendance told
Respondent to follow the Chief Magistrate's direction. Due to Respondent's
continued disruptions, the Chief Magistrate apologized to the other meeting
attendees and adjourned the meeting prematurely without completing the agenda.

After the meeting concluded, Respondent exited the meeting room and confronted
the magistrate who suggested he follow the Chief Magistrate's directions.
Respondent expressed his displeasure and told the other magistrate not to
disrespect him again. Respondent then returned to the meeting room where the
Chief Magistrate had begun to gather her personal belongings. When the Chief
Magistrate turned to leave the room, she was startled to see Respondent, who was
hitting his hands together and loudly requesting that going forward the Chief
Magistrate should show him respect. The Chief Magistrate grew concerned for her
physical well-being. The following day, she reported the incident to the Office of
Disciplinary Counsel.

Approximately a month later, Respondent told a Florence County clerk that the
Chief Magistrate "does not know who she is dealing with and she will regret doing
this," in reference to the complaint submitted to Disciplinary Counsel. Thereafter,
Respondent was placed on interim suspension. In re Rivers, S.C. Sup. Ct. Order
dated July 10, 2020.

                                         II.

Respondent admits he acted inappropriately during the May 14, 2020 meeting;
during his interaction with his fellow magistrate and the Chief Magistrate after the
meeting; and when he spoke to the clerk the following month. Respondent
recognizes that his concerns regarding Covid-19 do not excuse his behavior and
that his disruptive behavior reflected poorly on his professional judgment and
temperament.

Respondent acknowledges that his conduct violates the following provisions of the
Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 501, SCACR: Canon 2 (providing a judge shall
avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety) and Canon 3C(1) (providing
a judge shall diligently discharge administrative duties and cooperate with other
judges and court officials in the administration of court business). Respondent also
concedes that his misconduct constitutes grounds for discipline under Rule 7(a)(1),
RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR (establishing that a violation of the code of Judicial
Conduct shall be a ground for discipline). Respondent consents to the imposition
of up to a six-month suspension and requests that the sanction be imposed
retroactively. Disciplinary Counsel does not oppose that request.

                                        III.

We accept the Agreement for Discipline by Consent and suspend Respondent from
office for six months retroactive to July 10, 2020, the date of his interim
suspension. Further, Respondent shall complete anger management and comply
with all requirements set forth in this opinion prior to resuming the performance of
his judicial duties. Respondent must submit his choice of counselor to the
Commission on Judicial Conduct prior to beginning counseling. Respondent
should complete at least fifteen hours of anger management counseling; however,
should Respondent's chosen counselor determine that more than fifteen hours of
counseling are necessary, Respondent shall complete the number of hours
recommended by the counselor. After completion of his counseling, Respondent
shall provide proof of completion to Court Administration and the Commission on
Judicial Conduct, and Respondent's counselor shall submit a report to the
Commission on Judicial Conduct detailing Respondent's treatment and progress.
Failure to comply with and complete anger management counseling will be
grounds for further discipline. Within thirty days, Respondent shall pay or enter
into a reasonable payment plan to repay the costs incurred in the investigation of
this matter by Disciplinary Counsel and the Commission on Judicial Conduct.

DEFINITE SUSPENSION.

BEATTY, C.J., KITTREDGE, HEARN, FEW and JAMES, JJ., concur.