Judge voices safety concerns over Darlington family court facility

By Jim Faile

Published: October 6, 2008

DARLINGTON — A state Family Court judge Monday told Darlington County Council he has some concerns about the safety of court personnel and the general public in the family court facility in the Darlington County Courthouse.

Fourth Circuit Family Court Judge Jamie Lee Murdock Jr. of Hartsville asked council to consider making some changes to the third-floor facility to make it safer and provide additional space that would make it easier to keep parties involved in disputes before the court separate.

Murdock said his concerns sprang from a fight that occurred in the third-floor family court facility July 8.

The incident began as a confrontation in a waiting room and quickly spilled out into the hallway, Murdock said. A sheriff’s deputy attempted to break up the fight, but soon found himself on the floor struggling with the individuals involved, he said.

Two lawyers were in the nearby courtroom along with a court employee when the incident occurred, according to Murdock.

He said the lawyers were particularly concerned the people with whom the deputy was struggling might get his gun in the altercation.

Murdock said he was not present when the fight occurred. He said law enforcement and security officials managed to get things under control.

Three individuals involved were arrested at the time of the incident and a fourth was later arrested and charged with telephone harassment stemming from the incident, Murdock said.

He said one of the attorneys present went into the waiting room to check on his client after the incident and found her sobbing.

“That caused me some concerns about the safety of the general public and my staff,” Murdock said.

On that particular day, opposing parties were in the same waiting room because another waiting room was being used to hold juveniles, he said. “We try to separate plaintiffs and defendants,” he said, but added that is not always possible because of the lack of space.

He said later when he tried to leave the courtroom later to go to the restroom, the two lawyers would not let him leave out of concern for his safety. There is no private restroom for judges on the floor, only public restrooms, he said.

County Administrator Phyllis Griffitts said the county is working on installing a private restroom for judges in the facility.

Another confrontation occurred in the waiting room in the facility Monday when a woman slapped a man, Murdock said. Deputies quickly brought that situation under control, he said.

Murdock said one problem is that the facility does not have a place where attorneys can meet privately with clients. He suggested that another room could be redesigned to provide a conference area.

In addition, there is only one route out of the facility if an incident occurs, adding to safety concerns, Murdock said.

And often, he said, when he exits the courtroom he finds himself among people against whom he may have just ruled in a case, which he said is another safety concern. “That could be a dangerous situation,” Murdock said. “Family court is an emotional type arena and people do get upset.”

He said designing an alternative entrance and exit route could prove expensive because some walls would likely have to be removed. “I understand there are cost considerations,” Murdock said.

“I don’t want to be an alarmist, but security is a high priority now,” Murdock said. “Family Court situations can be very tense.”

Since the July 8 incident, Murdock said he has required court bailiffs to keep the hallway outside the courtroom cleared.

Councilman Marvin Le Flowers asked if moving the Family Court facility into another building possibly in the downtown Darlington area would help alleviate the situation. It could, Murdock said, and it
would allow court personnel continued access to the Clerk of Court’s office in the courthouse basement.

Even if the county goes that route, Le Flowers said, more immediate safety concerns in the existing facility need to be addressed in the short term.

In May, council received a report that included a recommendation from a private consultant group to build a new courthouse facility in the downtown Darlington area and keep the existing courthouse building as an administrative facility. Council has made no decision on building a new courthouse.