In the Matter of Harold W. Pryor

Davis Adv. Sh. No. 6
S.E. 2d

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Supreme Court

    In the Matter of Harold

    W. Pryor,         Respondent.

Opinion No. 24762

Submitted January 20, 1998 - Filed February 9, 1998

PUBLIC REPRIMAND

Henry B. Richardson, Jr., of Columbia, Disciplinary Counsel. Russell D. Ghent, of Spartanburg, for respondent.

        PER CURIAM: In this judicial disciplinary matter,

respondent and Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an agreement

under Rule 21, RJDE, Rule 502, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent

admits misconduct and consents to a public reprimand. We accept the

agreement.

        Respondent is a former Spartanburg County Magistrate. On or

about October 10, 1997, respondent pled guilty to one count of misconduct

in office pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 8-1-80 (Supp. 1997). This is a

serious crime as defined in Rule 2(z), RJDE. By his conduct, respondent

has also violated Rules 7(a)(1)(violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct)

and 7(a)(3)(conviction of a serious crime), RJDE, as well as the following

provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 501, SCACR: Section

1A(failure to maintain and observe high standards of conduct to preserve

the independence and integrity of the judiciary); Section 2(A)(failure to

respect and comply with the law, and failure to conduct himself in a

manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary);

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IN THE MATTER OF PRYOR

and Section 3(B)(2)(failure to be faithful to the law and maintain

professional competence in it).

        Because respondent is no longer a magistrate and because he

has agreed to not hereafter seek nor accept any judicial position within

the State of South Carolina, we have decided to accept the agreement for

a public reprimand. Accordingly, respondent is hereby publicly

reprimanded for his conduct.

PUBLIC REPRIMAND.

C.J.

A.J.

A.J.

A.J.

Burnett, A.J., not participating

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