SC BAR

The Criminal Law Section Council met this date at the Bar building in Columbia. Participating members included William Bilton, Lee Coggiola, Charles Grose, Stacy Haynes, Kathrine Hudgins, C. Kelly Jackson, Jennifer Kneece Shealy and Don Zelenka. Members participating via conference call were Trey Gowdy, Barbara Morgan and David P. Schwacke. Representing the Bar staff were Brenda Haley and Tara Smith. 

 

Chairperson Grose called the meeting to order.

 

The first item of business was approval of the minutes from the December 20, 2005, meeting. Mr. Grose moved approval of the minutes. The motion was seconded, and it was approved.

 

The next item of business was discussion on the loan forgiveness survey. Ms. Smith noted that she had distributed a copy of the results from the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) recent survey. Mr. Bilton briefly reviewed the document and asked Ms. Smith to obtain and submit a copy of the survey questions to the Council for review. After continued discussion, it was suggested that the survey address both part-time and full-time positions and that it be distributed to prosecutors, public defenders, and civil legal aid offices. Ms. Coggiola volunteered to assist Mr. Bilton with his efforts. 

 

Mr. Bilton opined that the Council should send a letter to the Congressional delegation reiterating the Bar’s continued support of the loan forgiveness program. Mr. Bilton moved to distribute the letter. Mr. Grose seconded the motion, and it was approved. Ms. Smith was to submit a request on behalf of the Section Council to the Bar Board of Governors for consideration.  

 

Next was discussion on the Pilot Track Docketing questionnaire. It was reported that Ms. Hudgins and Ms. Shealy were to determine where the programs were being implemented, collect administrative orders, and gather additional information on how to improve the system. A draft of the questionnaire was to be distributed electronically to the Council for comments. It was suggested that Ms. Hudgins and Ms. Shealy contact Ginger Dukes and Joan Assey for additional assistance.

 

In the next item of business, Mr. Zelenka expressed concern regarding the amount of money and time spent on post conviction relief cases. He referred Council to Frasier v. South Carolina and requested feedback from the Council.

 

Next, Mr. Grose discussed the new Sex Offender Management policies issued by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon (SCDPPP). He noted that the new policies would apply to anyone under SCDPPP supervision. After continued discussion, Mr. Bilton opined that Council should invite Ben Aplin from SCDPPP to the next Council meeting to discuss the policies. Mr. Grose was to contact Mr. Aplin and forward to the Council a copy of SCDPPP’s Standard Conditions Statement.

 

Mr. Grose announced that the next Section Council meeting would be scheduled for the end of March. He was to forward additional information at a later date.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.