Off again, on again: Richland judge changes mind about retirement

Earlier this month, the office of Gov. Nikki Haley got a telephone call from Richland County Master-in-Equity Judge Joe Strickland.

Strickland, 59, told the governor’s office he was going to retire from the position he has held since 1989, according to the governor’s office.

It was an unusual request, since Strickland just won a new six-year term this spring and wasn’t slated to step down until 2021. Also, Strickland is paid some $120,000-plus a year, although his exact salary wasn’t available late Friday.

Strickland notified the governor because masters-in-equity, unlike state circuit judges, are appointed to the bench by the governor after being elected by the General Assembly. State circuit judges don’t have to have a gubernatorial appointment.

Strickland’s resignation wasn’t known publicly until Aug. 13, when S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal filed a public order on the Supreme Court Internet site. It said that Strickland had resigned as master-in-equity and it also appointed him to be interim master-in-equity until a new one could be appointed.

After that order appeared, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which conducts initial screening for judicial candidates, got ready to announce it would seek applications for the vacant office.

But then, on Wednesday, another order popped up on the Supreme Court Internet site. Signed by Toal, it said that Strickland’s appointment as interim master “was due to the purported resignation” by Strickland on Aug. 11.

“Upon further review, Judge Strickland’s resignation to Richland County was ineffective and there is no vacancy in the Richland County Master-in-Equity office. Therefore, my order of Aug. 12, 2015, is hereby rescinded,” Toal wrote.

Toal said in an interview Friday, “He requested that I continue to allow him to serve as I have for other masters who retire and that he reconsidered. He had not filed his paperwork, and I was able to withdraw the order.”

She declined further comment.

The State newspaper left a request for comment from Strickland with a clerk in his office. He did not respond.

The governor’s office said it did not know why Strickland called to resign.