Goude, Matter of, 22920
| Citation | 296 S.C. 510,374 S.E.2d 496 |
| Decision Date | 17 October 1988 |
| Docket Number | No. 22920,22920 |
| Court | South Carolina Supreme Court |
| Parties | In the Matter of Charles Reuben GOUDE, Respondent. . Heard |
Atty. Gen. T. Travis Medlock, and Asst. Atty. Gen. James G. Bogle, Jr., Columbia, for complainant.
A. Camden Lewis and Cameron B. Littlejohn, Jr., of Lewis, Babcock, Pleicones & Hawkins, Columbia, for respondent.
Respondent is charged with misconduct for his behavior during and immediately following a criminal trial. From a finding of attorney misconduct, the Executive Committee recommends that Respondent receive a public reprimand. We agree with both the finding of misconduct and the recommended sanction.
Respondent, part-time public defender for Georgetown County, was appointed to represent a minister charged with sexually molesting a teenage boy (victim), who testified on behalf of the State.
Despite the presentation of a vigorous defense at trial, the defendant was found guilty. Respondent, admittedly, was extremely upset by the verdict. At sentencing, which immediately followed, he stated to the Court:
Later, Respondent angrily interrupted during the assistant solicitor's remarks to the Court. As a result of this outburst the trial judge admonished Respondent to address the Court "with a little more respect than which you have."
Respondent's incivility continued into the hallway outside the courtroom. Upon seeing a deputy with his hand on the victim's shoulder, Respondent stated: Shortly thereafter, as officers were escorting the defendant through the crowded hallway, Respondent shouted: "I don't see how this jury could convict my client with this little lying piece of ---- (expletive)." [Emphasis supplied].
The shouting incident in the hallway was reported in the next day's local newspapers, as was Respondent's behavior in the courtroom.
By his conduct in the courtroom, Respondent violated DR 7-106(C)(6), which prohibits a lawyer...
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Brandt v. Ozmint
...of the system. See, e.g., State v. Goff, supra; In the Matter of Golden, 329 S.C. 335, 496 S.E.2d 619 (1998); In the Matter of Goude, 296 S.C. 510, 374 S.E.2d 496 (1988). State v. Kennerly, 337 S.C. 617, 524 S.E.2d 837, 838 (1999). In State v. Havelka, 285 S.C. 388, 330 S.E.2d 288 (1985), t......
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In the Matter of Anonymous Member of The South Carolina Bar
...appropriately, he brings into question the integrity of the judicial system, and, as well, disserves his client.” In re Goude, 296 S.C. 510, 512, 374 S.E.2d 496, 497 (1988). We agree with the Panel that Respondent's e-mail was conduct tending to bring the legal profession into disrepute and......
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State v. Kennerly
...of the system. See, e.g., State v. Goff, supra; In the Matter of Golden, 329 S.C. 335, 496 S.E.2d 619 (1998); In the Matter of Goude, 296 S.C. 510, 374 S.E.2d 496 (1988). In two recent attorney disciplinary matters, this Court imposed public reprimands since the attorney's conduct was degra......
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IN RE SMITH, 25028.
...have behaved much worse than Attorney, a public reprimand has been the strongest punishment given as discipline. See Matter of Goude, 296 S.C. 510, 374 S.E.2d 496 (1988) (issuing a public reprimand for public outburst and shouting following a trial). Even where the attorney's disruptive beh......