Judge Walter Martin of Greenwood, SC; arrogant bully

The state of South Carolina presented Walter Rutledge Martin with a law license in 1994 after he graduated from Stanford University Law School.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel found Walter guilty of the following misconduct.

Former Gov. Mark Sanford was duped into appointing Walter as a Magistrate Judge. Walter didn’t get the appointment because he was the most qualified attorney in the area. He got it because he had proven to be a reliable lackey for the local political hacks.

In one matter, Walter became upset when a defendant appearing before him had the audacity to question the bond he had just set.

Walter responded by asking the defendant if he was calling him a liar. When the defendant responded, “No, I’m not going anywhere,” Walter replied, “Okay, because I’ll beat your ass if you call me a liar.”

As is the case with most arrogant bully’s like Walter, he had the chutzpah to blame his conduct on his disabled son, who he claimed kept him awake until 2:00 a.m.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Judicial Misfits sitting on the South Carolina Supreme Court punished Walter by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.

As we speak (ca. October 2014), Walter continues to sit as a Magistrate Court Judge in Greenwood, South Carolina.