Former York Co. prosecutor, public defender sworn in as circuit judge

For the first time in almost two decades, York County has a new Circuit Court judge.

And this time in a Moss Justice Center courtroom, nobody took a punch at him.

Dan Hall, 60, a cattle farmer who was a prosecutor and public defender for more than 25 years, was formally sworn in Friday as a state circuit court judge before a packed courtroom in Hall’s hometown of York.

The swearing-in took place in the same courthouse where, in October 2012, Hall was decked by a client he was defending on a criminal charge.

On his 58th birthday.

Hall got right up from that attack in 2012 and didn’t miss any work. It is that indefatigable toughness that so many talked about Friday as Hall officially took the bench.

Hall’s closest legal friend and former boss at the public defender’s office, 16th Circuit Chief Public Defender Harry Dest, said that, for decades, Hall has blended his deep religious faith and integrity to work for all people. As a judge, Dest said, Hall will make sure that everyone in society – from the business owner to the pauper – gets a fair shake.

The handcuffed defendant, sentenced to 15 years in 2012 for selling drugs and choking a Winthrop University student, took out his frustrations on Hall. The defendant received an additional six months in prison for contempt of court.

Still, Hall never said a cross word about the guy. He even declined to press criminal charges.

When York County Bar Association President Beth Faulkner talked Friday about Hall being the only judge in South Carolina to ever get “sucker-punched,” Hall laughed right along with the crowd.

In brief remarks Friday, Hall was true to his rural, blue-collar roots that he is so proud of, laughing and being serious in the same speech.

After graduating from Clemson University, Hall was a cattle farmer in eastern North Carolina for a stretch, living in a single-wide trailer with a wife and young kids. He returned to York after graduating law school at Campbell University.

Hall thanked his family, his church, the teachers and other people who had helped him grow into a lawyer and now a judge – while never forgetting he is still a cattle farmer from York, no better than the next man.

“I am accountable to our community,” Hall told the guests in the courtroom he now runs. “Every judgment I make will be judged. And I accept this.”

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal spoke about Hall having the right mix of legal knowledge and common sense to “walk with past giants” who have sat on York County’s legal bench.

Last month, Hall started training with other judges, so technically he has been a judge for weeks. The ceremony was held Friday as a formality organized by the York County Bar Association.

Hall takes the seat held since 1998 by Judge Lee Alford, who retired in December at 72, because state law does not allow judges to serve past that age. Alford swore in Hall, telling the packed room that he has full confidence that Hall will be a champion of justice and fairness.

York County’s other resident circuit court judge, John C. Hayes III, presented Hall with his new judicial robe.

After three unsuccessful bids to become a judge, Hall won election over five other candidates last year. South Carolina’s judges are elected by legislators, not voters. As a circuit court judge, he will hear civil cases and felony criminal cases. While his base will be York County, Hall will have statewide jurisdiction. Most judges travel to other counties to hear cases at least one week a month.

Hall ended his remarks by saying that he knows that being a judge puts the spotlight on him, since his decisions will decide how long someone goes to prison or how much someone else will pay in civil damages. He accepted that new scrutiny and accountability.

Summoning lyrics from a song by the legendary gospel group, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Hall said that if he messes up, “It ain’t nobody’s fault but mine.”

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Former York Co. prosecutor, public defender sworn in as circuit judge."