WINNSBORO – The shortage of experienced magistrates in Fairfield County is not currently causing a case backlog despite sweeping changes in magistrate posts, County officials say. As it stands, only two Fairfield magistrates are qualified to preside over cases – Paul Swearingen and newly appointed Chief Magistrate Russell Feaster. State Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls […]
Credit history put new judge’s bond at risk
July 18, 2019 By
Court Replaces Swearingen with Feaster as Chief Magistrate WINNSBORO – A recently appointed Fairfield County magistrate’s credit problems placed her in jeopardy of having her appointment invalidated. On July 11, the county’s Columbia-based bond insurer denied Danielle Miller’s application seeking to be bonded, citing Miller’s credit, according to documents The Voice obtained through the S.C. […]
Magistrate appointments bungled
June 20, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – State senators will reconvene next week, in part to reconsider four controversial magistrate appointments in Fairfield County, according to S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s Office. Specifically, Jannita Gaston, Danielle Miller, Katina Capers-Washington and Vanessa Hollins must go through the reappointment process again. That process includes verification of whether they have passed two required eligibility […]
Doubts cast on transparency and legality of magistrate selection process
June 13, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – It took multiple attempts for some recently appointed Fairfield and Chester county magistrate appointees to pass two basic skills exams required by state law, and one appointee couldn’t pass the tests at all. Katina Capers-Washington and Vanessa Hollins, both appointed to magistrate posts on May 21, passed on the first attempt, an agency […]
Fanning: ‘Good Ole Boys’ over
May 30, 2019 By
Some Committee Members Closely Connected to Fairfield WINNSBORO – S.C. Senator Mike Fanning advertised last February for applicants to fill positions for four part-time Fairfield County magistrates and one full-time chief magistrate, all of whom would be up for reappointment in May. At the same time he advertised for applicants to fill positions for four […]
Fanning appoints 4 magistrates in Fairfield
May 23, 2019 By
Follows Questions About Chester Appointments WINNSBORO – Senator Mike Fanning announced on Tuesday the appointment of four new magistrates for Fairfield County – Jannita Gaston, Danielle Miller, Katina Capers-Washington and Vannessa Hollins. They will join Magistrate Russell Feaster, appointed by Fanning last year, and Chief Magistrate Paul Swearingen. The new magistrates replace longtime magistrates William […]
