The Supreme Court of South Carolina

In the Matter of H. Ray Ham, Respondent.

ORDER

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed a petition asking this Court to place respondent on interim suspension pursuant to Rule 17(a), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. The petition also seeks appointment of an attorney to protect the interests of respondent's clients pursuant to Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. Respondent has consented to being placed on interim suspension.

IT IS ORDERED that the petition is granted and respondent is suspended, pursuant to Rule 17, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, from the practice of law in this State until further order of the Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Judith Callison Fisher, Esquire, is hereby appointed to assume responsibility for respondent's client files, trust account(s), escrow account(s), operating account(s), and any other law office account(s) respondent may maintain. Ms. Fisher shall take action as required by Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, to protect the interests of respondent's clients. Ms. Fisher may make disbursements from respondent's trust account(s), escrow account(s), operating account(s), and any other law office account(s) respondent may maintain that are necessary to effectuate this appointment.

This Order, when served on any bank or other financial institution maintaining trust, escrow and/or operating accounts of respondent, shall serve as an injunction to prevent respondent from making withdrawals from the account(s) and shall further serve as notice to the bank or other financial institution that Judith Callison Fisher, Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court.

Finally, this Order, when served on any office of the United States Postal Service, shall serve as notice that Judith Callison Fisher, Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court and has the authority to receive respondent's mail and the authority to direct that respondent's mail be delivered to Ms. Fisher's office.

This appointment shall be for a period of no longer than nine months unless request is made to this Court for an extension.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Columbia, South Carolina
October 4, 2004