Queen Jean’s Disco BBQ Soiree Is Tonight
As she does every year about this time, S.C. Chief Justice Jean Toal is spending our money to buy food and alcohol for the people who elect her.
It’s called a legislative reception, folks, and it’s taking place at 6:00 p.m. tonight at the Clarion “Clown”house hotel in downtown Columbia.
We posed several ethical questions to her highness about this little get-together last year, but heard nothing back – sort of like Toal’s attorney Stephanie Nye didn’t answer the note our founding editor slipped her before gym class.
Oh, well … we’ve got plenty of red construction paper, Miss Thing.
In related news, Toal is scheduled to give her “State of the Judiciary” speech to the legislature on February 25, which was apparently worked out with Sen. McConnell’s office last week.
Madame Chief Justice narrowly averted a lightning strike last year, so it’ll be interesting to see if even a word of truth escapes her lips this go-round …
Comments
By Roger Young on February 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am
To the best of my knowledge no taxpayers funds are expended on this event. The event is hosted by the Circuit Court Judges Association, of which I am a member. We assess ourselves the cost of the event, which this year is estimated to be $60 per judge, and pay for it out of our pocket. The Chief Justice is an invited guest of ours and is traditionally offered the opportunity to say a few very brief remarks at the beginning of the event just before the blessing.
Roger Young
Charleston
By fitsnews on February 10th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Roger,
That’s sweet … but who pays the judges’ salaries? And we’re just assuming CCJA dues and expenses are tax-deductible … right?
Also, how much taxpayer money does Toal pay Warren Tompkins & Co. each year to lobby the legislature – which today is all about driving lawmakers to this event.
We asked the court these and about a dozen other questions last year in anticipation of this event and got no response.
-FITS
By Pete on February 10th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Roger: Good for you. It is nice of all of you Circuit Court judges to pay for a party to celebrate the life and existence of the person who has sole and absolute discretion to decide if you will be a judge from day to day. I am sure it is all voluntary. I have talked with enough circuit court judges to know the absolute fear with which they live. The fear that they may ever get on Her bad side.
By RedBank Bar on February 10th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Well, folks, Judge Young b*tch-slapped you. No taxpayer money goes to this soiree. The judges do get their evenings to themselves, folks.
Thanks for playing, folks. Try again soon.
By Tradd on February 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Roger, Just make sure that you have someone to drive Queen Jean home. She’s already down in the count 0-2, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want strike three to come at the expense of some child walking home from school.
By Pete on February 10th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I’m sure Queen Jean has Costa driving her home. He’s her personal do-boy.
It would really be nasty to say we could send Donnie Myers over to drive her home, wouldn’t it? WWJD? What would Jean do to YOU!
By A. Nonymous on February 10th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I can’t figure out the dynamics in the Donnie Myers – Jean Toal configuration. But maybe someone should.
By Pete on February 10th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
While they appear to hate each and are politically on different planets, both Myers and Toal have been known to partake of the Devil’s own evil nectars and then drive automobiles. And have gotten caught by various po-po’s for doing so.
By notsayinjustsaying@gfy.com on February 10th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Who cares if the judges are using their personal funds to pay for this ass-kiss? What concerns me IS the ass-kiss. This sort of event is a glorified bribe, plain and simple. Bruce Williams coordinates the thing, I guess to advance his career (not working out much for him recently).
By notsayinjustsaying@gfy.com on February 10th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Oh, and I wonder if Judge Goode will be there … http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/680608.html
By James the Foot Soldier on February 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I’ll bet anyone a dollar that the $60 “assessment”/extortion is then submitted for a reimbursement check from the guv’ment….any takers?
By Todd on February 10th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Whoa. Didn’t see the Kenny Goode thing coming down. He still gets full state retirement for serving just ten years on the bench. He’ll be okay. Sweet deal they got for the judges years ago. Judge Goode is a great guy, but the days of being the easist in the state on crime died with Judge Frank Epps. Epps was great fun to watch on the gubernatorial stump meetings circuit that year, however after he retired.
By RePete on February 10th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Yeah Pete — but I was totally blown away when The State newspaper ran his mug back in ‘05 for that evil-nectar-fueled driving. I can see their publicizing on the Toalster — but not on the Rooster. Warthime must have been absent that day.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' ... on February 10th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Goode is an inept clown. It’s fantastic news that he’s no longer going to be doing injustice on the bench. Sadly, there will be plenty alot like him — although not as bad — left to ruin or seriously harm people’s lives and make a mockery of our judicial system.
By Read the article before you comment on February 11th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Goode is running unopposed…he will be on the bench for at least one more new term.
By liz shepherd on February 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I wish the courts and legal people in this state including law enforcement worried about the Social Security Trust Fund being stolen. There are ghost accounts maintained in this state.
That affects every single citizen and must be stopped.
I HAVE A GHOST SO I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE> I HAVE EVIDENCE OF MY GHOST, not that a soul on earth gives a rip, yet….
BUT YO PEOPLE> it’s YOUR Social Security too.
By notsayinjustsaying@gfy.com on February 11th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I read the article, and the fact that he’s unopposed makes no difference. Just ask Tommy Abbott from Conway, who ran unopposed for reelection to his family court seat, but lost to, well, nobody because more members voted against him than for him. Since his seat was then going to be vacant when his term ended, a subsequent election was held. Abbott ran in that race, unopposed, and won, but only after going hat-in-hand to the Powers that Be in the State House and with strong support from the Horry County Bar.