Table of Contents

Broken Badges: Attorneys Gone Wild in a Two-Tier Justice System

By James Seidel | CC News Network

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The South Carolina legal system has taken down yet another corrupt attorney—but the question remains: why do some bad actors in the system face severe punishment while others get a slap on the wrist?

On February 19, 2025, the South Carolina Supreme Court disbarred John Keith Blincow Jr., a Charleston attorney who misappropriated client funds, fabricated financial records, and used stolen money on personal luxuries like ski trips, country club memberships, and tuition payments. His law license was permanently revoked, but the fact remains—Blincow avoided criminal charges for years while others, like Alex Murdaugh, were hit with the full weight of the law.

His disbarment comes just as another Charleston attorney, Jeffrey Spell, was suspended for only six months, despite a long history of fraud, misconduct, and even a federal conviction for wire fraud.

This raises serious concerns about who actually faces justice in South Carolina—and who gets a free pass.

Broken Badges: John Keith Blincow Jr.: A Career of Theft and Deception

Blincow’s misconduct spanned years and involved numerous clients who trusted him with their financial settlements. According to the South Carolina Supreme Court ruling:

He stole client retainers and used them for personal expenses, including vacations and club memberships.
He falsified financial records to conceal missing funds.
He failed to pay co-counsel and expert witnesses in ongoing litigation.
He was arrested in 2021 on felony breach of trust charges but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor forgery—avoiding a lengthy prison sentence.

Despite these serious crimes, Blincow never saw the inside of a prison cell. Instead, his disbarment—while severe in professional terms—does not hold him criminally accountable for the funds he misappropriated.

Broken Badges: Jeffrey Spell: Fraud, Tax Evasion, and an Affair with a Client’s Wife—Still No Prison Time

While Blincow was disbarred, West Ashley attorney Jeffrey Spell got away with just a six-month suspension—despite a pattern of misconduct that dates back two decades.

Spell’s latest case involved:

A years-long affair with a client’s wife while representing both in legal matters.
Failing to pay income taxes for over a decade.
A federal wire fraud conviction in 2005, which resulted in house arrest and probation—but no prison time.

Like Blincow, Spell had a history of legal misconduct but was allowed to keep practicing law until his latest scandal surfaced.

Broken Badges: Why Did Alex Murdaugh Get Life While These Lawyers Walked Free?

The inconsistency in punishment raises serious concerns about whether South Carolina’s justice system truly holds its own accountable.

Murdaugh’s Crimes:

Convicted by an Alleged Tampered Jury of Murdering his wife and son—a high-profile case that shocked the nation.
Stole over $15 million from clients, many of whom were vulnerable or disabled.
Ran fraudulent schemes for years with full knowledge of the legal consequences.
Received two consecutive life sentences for murder with no parole.

Spell and Blincow’s Crimes:

Both engaged in years of financial misconduct.
Both defrauded clients out of large sums of money.
Both faced professional discipline, but neither served serious prison time.

A System That Protects Its Own?

The legal community in South Carolina appears to operate under a different set of rules when it comes to lawyers committing crimes. Unlike Murdaugh, Spell and Blincow did not murder anyone—but their blatant theft, deception, and fraud left their clients devastated.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has been firm in punishing misconduct, but the criminal justice system has been much more forgiving when attorneys like Blincow and Spell get caught stealing or engaging in unethical behavior.

Meanwhile, others in the state’s justice system—lawyers, law enforcement officers, and elected officials—have engaged in corruption for years without facing significant repercussions.

The Bigger Picture: Corruption in South Carolina’s Legal System

Blincow and Spell’s cases are far from isolated incidents. South Carolina has a long history of attorneys, police officers, and court officials abusing their power:

Former Greenville County Sheriff Will Lewis was convicted of misusing taxpayer funds and engaging in sexual misconduct in office.
Charleston County Deputy Raymond Johnson was sentenced to 20 years for using his badge to sexually assault women.
Multiple officers at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center were arrested in a federal probe into corruption, smuggling, and violence.

South Carolina’s legal system has no shortage of “Broken Badges”—law enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges who manipulate the system to protect themselves.

But when a case like Alex Murdaugh’s dominates national headlines, the justice system moves swiftly and severely—while attorneys like Blincow and Spell quietly evade criminal consequences.

Will True Justice Ever Be Served?

John Keith Blincow Jr. is disbarred, but he avoided prison.
Jeffrey Spell got a six-month suspension but will likely practice law again.
Alex Murdaugh got disbarred and 40 years in federal prison.

The disparities in punishment expose a system that selectively applies justice, depending on who is being prosecuted and how much public scrutiny is involved.

Unless South Carolina’s legal community holds all of its members accountable equally, the system will remain broken—protecting corrupt lawyers while making high-profile scapegoats out of others.

CC News Network will continue exposing South Carolina’s Broken Badges.