South Carolina federal judge reprimanded for lucrative contract with ex-employer

(Reuters) – A U.S. district decide in South Carolina is being reprimanded for signing a contract with Charleston County, the place he lengthy served as county legal professional previous to his judicial appointment, that assured him $216,000 plus a price for any opioid litigation settlements it gained after he joined the federal bench.

The 4th Circuit Judicial Council on Friday issued a uncommon public reprimand to U.S. District Decide Joseph Dawson, saying the settlement and the $216,000 he was paid “undermined the general public’s confidence within the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”

The council mentioned there was no proof Dawson violated ethics guidelines by practising regulation on the county’s behalf whereas serving as a decide and credited him for later amending his contract to forfeit his rights to the opioid contingency price.

However the nine-judge council mentioned his association for the $216,000 created the looks he “obtained a big fee on the eve of taking the bench for no coherent purpose,” or worse, that he had agreed to apply regulation whereas on the bench.

The reprimand adopted an investigation by a particular committee of judges into allegations raised in a pair of misconduct complaints in opposition to Dawson together with one by the judicial reform group Repair the Courtroom.

The particular committee, suggested by Geoffrey Klineberg of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, had really helpful only a personal reprimand. However U.S. Circuit Decide Robert King, writing for the council, mentioned the “public concern requires a public response.”

Dawson apologized for any hurt he prompted. He didn’t reply to requests for remark.

At subject was a separation settlement that Dawson, an appointee of former Republican President Donald Trump, signed with the county, which was involved a few potential data void that will happen when he left his job as county legal professional.

Dawson below a deal signed only a week earlier than he gained U.S. Senate affirmation in December 2020 stood to earn $216,000 plus a 1.5% contingency price for his work on a lawsuit the county filed accusing drugmakers like Purdue Pharma of fueling the opioid epidemic.

After he grew to become a decide, county officers at occasions requested him about historic data reminiscent of the place to seek out sure documentation, Friday’s order mentioned.

After the South Carolina newspaper The Put up and Courier reported on the deal in February 2021, Repair the Courtroom filed the primary judicial misconduct criticism in opposition to Dawson.

Following public criticism of the deal, Dawson entered into an amended contract in Might 2021 the place he gave up his proper to the opioid contingency price and specified that the $216,000 was for previous, not future, authorized work.

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