Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2008 Session > Title 8

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Title 8 - Public Officers and Employees

CHAPTER 5.

BUYING AND SELLING OF OFFICES PROHIBITED

SECTION 8-5-10. Repealed by 1991 Act No. 248, Section 5, eff January 1, 1992.

SECTION 8-5-20. Buying and selling of offices forbidden.

If any person (a) bargain for the purchase or sale of, or sell, any office or deputation thereof, or any part thereof, (b) receive any money, fee, reward or any other profit, directly or indirectly or (c) take any promise, agreement, covenant, bond or assurance for the payment of any money, fee, reward or other profit, directly or indirectly, for any office or deputation thereof, or any part thereof or to the intent that any person should have, exercise or enjoy any office or deputation thereof, or any part thereof, which office, or any part thereof, shall in any wise touch or concern the administration or execution of justice or the receipt, control or payment of any public treasure, money, rent, revenue, account, auditorship or surveying of any public lands or which shall touch or concern any clerkship to be occupied in any court of record wherein justice is administered, such person shall not only lose and forfeit all right and interest in or to such office or deputation thereof, or any part thereof, but shall immediately, upon the payment of such fee, money or reward or upon any such promise, covenant, bond or agreement had or made for the payment of such fee, sum of money or reward, be adjudged a disabled person in law, to all intents and purposes, to have, occupy or enjoy such office or deputation, or any part thereof, for which any such person shall so give or enjoy or make any promise, covenant, bond or other assurance to give or pay any sum of money, fee or reward.

SECTION 8-5-30. Sales and the like of offices shall be void.

Every bargain, sale, promise, bond, agreement, covenant and assurance, as before specified, shall be void to and against him by whom any such bargain, sale, bond, promise, covenant or assurance shall be had or made.

SECTION 8-5-40. Official acts performed after offense but before removal shall be valid.

If any person shall offend in anything contrary to the tenor and effect of Sections 8-5-20 and 8-5-30, yet, notwithstanding, all judgments given and all other acts executed or done by such person so offending, by authority or color of the office or deputation which ought to be forfeited or not occupied or not enjoyed by the person so offending, after the offense so by such person committed or done and before such person so offending for such offense be removed from the exercise, administration and occupation of such office or deputation, shall be and remain good and sufficient in law to all intents, constructions and purposes.