Irmo chief set to become magistrate

Brian Buck is trading his uniform as Irmo police chief for the black robe of a Lexington County magistrate, other officials said Thursday.

Buck is one of two new magistrates set to take office shortly, according to Sen. Katrina Shealy of Red Bank.

He joins former county sheriff’s deputy Brad Nelson as the choices to fill two vacancies in those judgeships, she said.

The pair were selected by the five state senators representing the county from among 14 applicants.

Irmo Mayor Hardy King also confirmed that Buck is leaving after 27 years in law enforcement with the town – the last 10 as police chief – to become a magistrate.

Buck declined to discuss his new role yet, only saying “I’m excited about future opportunities.”

Offices of the nine magistrates are scattered in six communities across the 758-square-mile county, with three at judicial headquarters in downtown Lexington.

The judges handle an average of 45,000 matters a year, including traffic tickets, some criminal misdemeanors, bond hearings for those accused of major crimes and small claims disputes.

Magistrates are not required to be lawyers but undergo legal training regularly after appointment. Many of the 300 across South Carolina have backgrounds in law enforcement.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 7:03 PM.