If ethics complaints are filed against local judges, you may never learn about it.

That’s because SC Supreme Court rules ensure secrecy.

Misconduct proceedings against judges become public only if formal charges are approved by the Supreme Court’s Commission on Judicial Conduct.

In the last 10 years, no formal charges have been filed, according to the commission.

Of 3,016 pending complaints about judges, 2,553 – nearly 85% – were dismissed.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the Supreme Court’s investigative arm, dismissed the vast majority.

Investigative panels dropped the rest.

For complaints that weren’t dismissed, judges received private “letters of caution.” These aren’t considered

These aren’t considered an official sanction and involve no misconduct that warrants formal sanction.

Under court rules, a disciplinary agreement that results in a caution letter “shall not be available to the public at any time.”

No judges have been removed from office since 2011.

Read the full story at https://www.lexington-chronicle.com/news/what-you-dont-know-about-our-judges .

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org .