Mingo named county’s chief magistrate

 Statewide move by chief justice stuns local, state officials

By Mandy Catoe
Wednesday, July 5, 2017 

Curtisha Mingo got a promotion over the weekend. Appointed as a magistrate in January, she is now the county’s chief magistrate.
The change was made by an order from S.C. Chief Justice Donald Beatty, who signed an order June 28 naming new chief magistrates in 31 of the Palmetto State's 46 counties.
The changes went into effect July 1 and stunned county and state officials.
Historically, chief magistrates are appointed by the Senate, not the chief justice.
Sen. Greg Gregory said he was preparing a statement, but did not have one ready before deadline.
Beatty's rationale, according to The State newspaper, was that the judges "should be rotated on a regular basis."


Mingo's appointment unseats Van Richardson, who was appointed by Sens. Gregory and Vincent Sheheen in January to replace Judge Jackie Pope, who retired after 18 years of service.
At the same time, the senators appointed Mingo to fill the vacancy left by Richardson, who had been a magistrate for 13 years.
Richardson said he was notified last Thursday, "just like every other magistrate in the state."
"This is a new chief justice and I am sure he has a plan," he said.
Beaty began serving as chief justice of the S.C. Supreme Court on Jan. 1.
Mingo, a lawyer with a decade of legal experience, had just settled into her new role as magistrate after serving as assistant deputy public defender for the 6th Circuit.
Mingo did not respond before deadline.
Lancaster County Administrator Steve Willis said this was the first time he has known the chief justice to make these appointments, which normally come from the Senate.
“This is outside our realm," he said. "But I would be willing to bet the Senate isn't going to take this very well.”
“From the county's perspective, the only thing that gave us pause was the chief justice making changes 36 hours before the new budget goes into effect and after the budget had already been passed,” Willis said. “It won't be a huge change, but it will throw the budgeted salaries out of line.”
Full-time chief magistrates get a $3,000 salary increase.
The county pays the salaries and office costs of magistrates, but has no control over appointments.
Lancaster County has four magistrates who preside over traffic, criminal and civil courts. Magistrates are appointed for four-year terms and usually, once seated, reappointment is routine.
Cases heard in magistrate’s court include shoplifting, domestic violence, larceny involving less than $1,000, receiving stolen goods, traffic, fish and game law violations. Magistrates courts hold preliminary hearings for most criminal cases punishable by limited fines or short jail sentences.
Civil court handles small-claim filings, which total less than $7,500.
As head magistrate for the county, the chief magistrate not only hears cases, but also has administrative duties to ensure court runs smoothly. The chief magistrate schedules and assigns cases to the other magistrates.
One of the biggest responsibilities of the magistrate’s court is bond hearings, which are heard twice each day, 365 days of the year.

Follow reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.