County Council Complies with S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice's Order

Dorchester County Council will comply with an order handed down by the highest judge in the state.

During a special meeting Friday morning, council voted 3-0, with two abstaining and two absent, to consent to S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal's order, which mandates the county agree to fund Clerk of Court Cheryl Graham's remodeling plan for the St. George county courthouse for the new at-large circuit court judge's office.

Councilmen Jay Byars and Larry Hargett were absent from the meeting, and Councilwoman Carroll Duncan and Councilman David Chinnis abstained.

Judge Maite Murphy takes office July 1. According to Toal's order, it is state law for the county to provide office space for each judge. At issue was whether or not County Council has the right to dictate plans for office space assignment at the courthouse — a job that falls to the Clerk of Court under state law. Graham had submitted a plan in March, but County Council voted in favor of funding a different plan. Both plans cost the same.

The plan approved by council in Friday's meeting is the original plan put forward by Graham. This plan takes about half the space away from probate court for use in the new office for Murphy, and costs about $12,000. A lot of the work will be done in-house to save money, according to sources.

In addition to Toal's intervention in the courthouse office dispute, the S.C. House passed a budget amendment earlier this week, which would sanction $30,000 from the county to give directly to the clerk of court for this matter. However, Council Chairman Bill Hearn said, that measure will likely be removed now that council has complied with Toal's order. 

"We are stepping out in faith," Hearn said.