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Florence County Magistrate Tommy G. Mourounas Suspended Amid Allegations of Misconduct and Dereliction of Duty

By James Seidel | CC News Network | Broken Badges

FLORENCE, S.C. — Florence County Magistrate Tommy G. Mourounas has been placed on interim suspension following mounting allegations of misconduct and what the South Carolina Supreme Court previously described as a “dereliction of duty.”

In an order issued this month, the Court cited concerns that Mourounas has engaged in conduct that “reflects adversely on his fitness as a judge.” As a result, he has been barred from all judicial functions and court facilities unless escorted by law enforcement and authorized in advance by the Chief Magistrate of Florence County.

The suspension was issued under Rule 17(b) of the Rules for Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement, contained within Rule 502 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules.

Court-Imposed Restrictions:

Mourounas is prohibited from entering any magistrate court buildings in Florence County unless escorted and pre-authorized.
He may not access or alter public records, court case management systems, or judicial databases.
The order blocks Mourounas from accessing any judicial bank accounts, with notice sent to all relevant financial institutions.
The Chief Magistrate has been instructed to mitigate disruptions to Florence County’s court operations during Mourounas’s absence.

This latest suspension follows a prior disciplinary action in June 2024, when then-Chief Justice Donal W. Beatty issued an immediate suspension without pay, citing Mourounas’ repeated failure to report for duty.

“An unacceptable affront to the fair administration of justice and the courts,” the Supreme Court stated in its June 2024 order.

The Court referred to Mourounas’s absences as a serious violation of the public trust and judicial obligation, characterizing his actions as undermining the integrity of South Carolina’s legal system.

As of this writing, no formal charges have been publicly disclosed regarding the current suspension, though the South Carolina Office of Disciplinary Counsel is expected to continue its investigation.

CC News Network will continue to report on any developments in the matter involving Judge Tommy G. Mourounas and the broader implications for Florence County’s judicial system.

For more on this and other judicial accountability stories, follow @CrimeAndCask and visit CCNewsNetwork.com.

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