Magistrate: George T. Ferguson
Location: Abbeville County
Bar Membership: Not a member of the bar
Disciplinary action: Publicly reprimanded by the Supreme Court on Aug. 6
Background: Ferguson pleaded guilty on May 16 to two counts of misconduct in office. In each case, Ferguson gave a woman who had appeared before him, in his official capacity as magistrate, money and/or preferential treatment in handling her legal matters in return for the woman allowing Ferguson to have sexual contact with her over an extended period of time. On each charge, Ferguson was sentenced to one year in prison which would be suspended with probation for five years after the service of 90 days. Since Ferguson no longer holds judicial office, a public reprimand was the most severe sanction that the court could impose. Ferguson consented to the reprimand and agreed never to seek nor accept a judicial office in the state without the court’s permission.
Previous discipline: None listed