Court Opinion

ID: 9849370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:39:05.823478+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:20.009293
License: Public Domain

Gregory, Justice
(dissenting) :
A careful review of the transcript of proceedings and exhibits does not convince me that respondent’s actions justify the findings of misconduct and sanction set forth in the majority opinion.
An exhaustive investigation into the many thousands of cases disposed of in the North Myrtle Beach Recorder’s Court during respondent’s services as recorder has uncovered only the several isolated incidents alleged in the Complaint and referred to in the testimony as possible acts of misconduct. Financial gain and advantage to respondent is not suggested. Considered in the perspective of the period, the place, the number of cases, and the directives of the Attorney General, such flimsy and tenuous inferences of impropriety do not reasonably tend to support the findings and conclusions of the majority in regard to the matters involving Rummans, Howie, Smith, Jones and Peake. In my view no sanction is warranted and the Complaint should be dismissed as to these matters.
I concur with the finding of professional misconduct in the Sellers matter. The appropriate disciplinary sanction, in accord with the Panel’s recommendation, is a private reprimand. I would order that the respondent, Robert M. Mc-Innis, appear at the time and place to be designated by the Executive Committee for the purpose of having that Committee administer the sanction.
Ness, J., concurs.