Supreme Court Published Opinions -
December 2008
Note: Beginning in June 2012, opinions will be posted as Adobe PDFs. You can download a free copy of Adobe Reader here.
The summary following each opinion is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what a particular opinion decides. The summary is not necessarily a full description of the issues discussed in an opinion.
12-8-2008 - Opinions
26568 - Lancaster County Bar Association v. South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense
The Court held that Indigent Defense's construction of S.C. Code Ann. § 17-3-510(A) was correct.
The order of the PCR judge granting petitioner a belated review of his direct appeal issues was reversed and remanded for an evidentiary hearing because there was no finding petitioner was entitled to be advised of his right to a direct appeal from his guilty pleas.12-8-2008 - Orders
ORDER - In the Matter of Ronald W. Hazzard
This is an order reinstating a lawyer to the practice of law.ORDER - In the Matter of W. James Hoffmeyer
This is an order reinstating a lawyer to the practice of law.12-15-2008 - Opinions
After careful consideration of the record and briefs, the writ is Dismissed as Improvidently Granted.
In this PCR case, the issues involve ineffective assistance of counsel regarding trial preparation and comments made in closing argument.
The issue on certiorari is whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding a probate court order denying a motion to remove is immediately appealable.12-22-2008 - Opinions
In this case, the Court denies Petitioner’s request for a writ of habeas corpus and holds that Petitioner’s conviction and sentence does not violate due process.
In this quiet title action, Appellants appeal from the master-in-equity's order, which awarded title to the disputed property and damages to Respondents.12-29-2008 - Opinions
In this death-penalty post-conviction relief case, we affirm the PCR judge's decision to vacate Respondent's sentence of death and grant a new sentencing hearing. We reverse the PCR judge's decision to continue indefinitely one of Respondent's PCR grounds until Respondent regains competence. We remand for the PCR judge to rule on this ground based on the evidentiary record established at the PCR hearing.