SC

Jean Toal’s Lawmaker Protection Order

Last Friday, S.C. Supreme Court chief justice Jean Toal quietly issued an “amendment and clarification” of a 2010 order excusing state lawyer-legislators from having to appear in court on behalf of clients while they attended to the “people’s business.” According to the new order, the “period of protection” for these…

Last Friday, S.C. Supreme Court chief justice Jean Toal quietly issued an “amendment and clarification” of a 2010 order excusing state lawyer-legislators from having to appear in court on behalf of clients while they attended to the “people’s business.”

According to the new order, the “period of protection” for these lawyer-legislators now extends “from the first Tuesday in January until the third Thursday in June or until thirty days after the General Assembly completes all votes on the General Appropriation bill, including but not limited to votes on vetoes of the General Appropriation bill, whichever is later.”

In other words, lawyer-legislators can now keep their cases out of court for at least seven months of the year.

“This is really useful if you’re a criminal defense attorney,” one of our sources said. “This is (Toal’s) latest bribe to curry favor – and votes.”

Toal’s order comes a week after FITS exclusively reported on associate Supreme Court justice Costa Pleicones’ bid to unseat her. According to our sources, Pleicones is furious with Toal for reneging on her promise not to seek another term as chief justice (another story which broke exclusively on FITS).

In South Carolina all judges – including Supreme Court justices – are elected by the S.C. General Assembly. In fact a legislatively controlled commission selects the slate of candidates, effectively giving one branch of government total control over the other. Not surprisingly this process – like everything else in state government – is infinitely corrupt.

Not unlike Toal’s court itself …

The point of this order is unmistakeable: Not only is it an inducement from Toal, more importantly it is a reminder to every lawyer-legislator that she controls their calendars.

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36 comments

Mad June 23, 2013 at 7:34 pm

More of a reason not to elect lawyers to the legislation and strip legislators from electing judges.

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Polyphemos June 23, 2013 at 11:24 pm

I’m not sure that would do the trick. But if we had a constitutional amendment that every time a law was passed, it had to be tattooed on the mammalian appendages of every legislator, I bet it would have a very salutary effect. Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges. (The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.) – Tacitus

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Mad June 23, 2013 at 7:34 pm

More of a reason not to elect lawyers to the legislation and strip legislators from electing judges.

Reply
Slartibartfast June 23, 2013 at 11:24 pm

I’m not sure that would do the trick. But if we had a constitutional amendment that every time a law was passed, it had to be tattooed on the mammalian appendages of every legislator, I bet it would have a very salutary effect. Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges. (The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.) – Tacitus

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Jim June 23, 2013 at 7:40 pm

Is that where the saying monkey in the court came from lol

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OK June 23, 2013 at 7:40 pm

Is that where the saying monkey in the court came from lol

Reply
jimlewisowb June 23, 2013 at 8:09 pm

Tuck Foal
Huck her Forse

Heard that Queen Toad kissed Lt. Governor McConnell last week and he turned into a Princess

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 1:45 pm

Perhaps you have that backwards.

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jimlewisowb June 24, 2013 at 3:13 pm

No, don’t think so

Toal for sure is a Toad and although I haven’t had any direct contact with McConnell in over 50 +/- years pretty sure he is still a fucking Princess. Key here is don’t forget the “a”

Now if you are talking about which one to Huck first, Foal or her Forse, shat the whit, they sook the lame

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Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 4:29 pm

A little girl was auditioning for the school play, and she had nine times to conceal her lisp. It was a tenth situation.

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Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm

You’re good with that language. Who was the entertainer who used to tell those fairy tales like that? (Not Victor Borge, with the punctuation stories)

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jimlewisowb June 23, 2013 at 8:09 pm

Tuck Foal
Huck her Forse

Heard that Queen Toad kissed Lt. Governor McConnell last week and he turned into a Princess

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 1:45 pm

Perhaps you have that backwards.

Reply
jimlewisowb June 24, 2013 at 3:13 pm

No, don’t think so

Toal for sure is a Toad and although I haven’t had any direct contact with McConnell in over 50 +/- years pretty sure he is still a fucking Princess. Key here is don’t forget the “a”

Now if you are talking about which one to Huck first, Foal or her Forse, shat the whit, they sook the lame

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 4:29 pm

A little girl was auditioning for the school play, and she had nine times to conceal her lisp. It was a tenth situation.

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm

You’re good with that language. Who was the entertainer who used to tell those fairy tales like that? (Not Victor Borge, with the punctuation stories)

Reply
me June 23, 2013 at 10:25 pm

All I know is, if I see her coming I’m getting out of the way. I wouldn’t want her to side swipe me and then run home and tell the HP “I swear I wasn’t (burp) , drink – drin.. burp – drink..ing.

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me June 23, 2013 at 10:25 pm

All I know is, if I see her coming I’m getting out of the way. I wouldn’t want her to side swipe me and then run home and tell the HP “I swear I wasn’t (burp) , drink – drin.. burp – drink..ing.

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 12:33 am

Toal has absolutely the BIGGEST ears ever seen on a human being! DAMN!

Reply
nitrat June 24, 2013 at 8:58 am

Wow! we really do need a profile shot! They sure appear to be the longest from top to bottom ears ever!

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junior justice June 24, 2013 at 10:46 am

Perhaps that is where the lawyers hold on when giving it to her doggy-style.

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bobbie jo pepperdine June 24, 2013 at 11:16 am

You are so gross and so sick! That image made me lose my breakfast!

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 12:33 am

Toal has absolutely the BIGGEST ears ever seen on a human being! DAMN!

Reply
nitrat June 24, 2013 at 8:58 am

Wow! we really do need a profile shot! They sure appear to be the longest from top to bottom ears ever!

Reply
junior justice June 24, 2013 at 10:46 am

Perhaps that is where the lawyers hold on when giving it to her doggy-style.

Reply
bobbie jo pepperdine June 24, 2013 at 11:16 am

You are so gross and so sick! That image made me lose my breakfast!

Reply
Elfego June 24, 2013 at 8:31 am

Scratching each others backs. If lawyers cant be in court they should have to give up their license!

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nitrat June 24, 2013 at 8:59 am

Justice delayed is justice denied.

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Elfego June 24, 2013 at 8:31 am

Scratching each others backs. If lawyers cant be in court they should have to give up their license!

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nitrat June 24, 2013 at 8:59 am

Justice delayed is justice denied.

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Jan June 24, 2013 at 11:26 am

SC Government has three branches, just like the Federal Government. They are supposed to be co-equal. The Courts have always excused legislators while in secession to avoid a Constitutional dispute over the authority of the court, and to eliminate the possibility of the courts scheduling hearings in the middle of important votes or debates, and thereby affecting the outcome.

This article is much ado about nothing.

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Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 12:49 pm

If the legislatures were in “secession” why do they keep coming back?

Reply
Jan June 24, 2013 at 4:44 pm

Good question? session

Given we are discussing SC it must have been a Freudian slip.

Reply
Jan June 24, 2013 at 11:26 am

SC Government has three branches, just like the Federal Government. They are supposed to be co-equal. The Courts have always excused legislators while in secession to avoid a Constitutional dispute over the authority of the court, and to eliminate the possibility of the courts scheduling hearings in the middle of important votes or debates, and thereby affecting the outcome.

This article is much ado about nothing.

Reply
Finius Nullis June 24, 2013 at 12:49 pm

If the legislatures were in “secession” why do they keep coming back?

Reply
Jan June 24, 2013 at 4:44 pm

Good question? session

Given we are discussing SC it must have been a Freudian slip.

Reply

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