Municipal judge suspended for 30 days

August 25, 2011

VARNVILLE, South Carolina: On August 8, 2011 the South Carolina Supreme Court found Judge Sheryl P. McKinney guilty of judicial misconduct and she was suspended from her duties for 30 days.

Between 2002 and 2006, Judge McKinney received checks from the Varnville Police Department totaling $4,890.00. She was under the belief that the checks were supplemental salary she was being paid for after-hours work. She was unaware that it was improper for her to receive payments from a police department that brought cases before her. However, the Supreme Court also found that "There is no allegation or evidence that respondent ever ruled a particular way due to the payments from the police department. There is no allegation or any evidence that the judge made any decision not fully supported by the evidence."