In Re: Hoppock


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Docket Number: 2002-CS-01684-SCT

Supreme Court: Opinion Link
Opinion Date: 07-24-2003
Opinion Author: Waller, J.
Holding: COURT REPORTER WILLIAM M. HOPPOCK IS FOUND IN CONTEMPT OF COURT AND HIS LICENSE IS REVOKED

Additional Case Information: Topic: Court reporter discipline - Criminal contempt
Judge(s) Concurring: Pittman, C.J., McRae and Smith, P.JJ., Cobb, Carlson and Graves, JJ.
Non Participating Judge(s): Diaz, J.
Concur in Part, Dissent in Part 1: Easley, J., Concurs in Part and Dissents in Part Without Separate Written Opinion


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Topic: Court reporter discipline - Criminal contempt

Summary of the Facts: The Supreme Court has experienced repeated difficulties in getting trial court transcripts from court reporter William M. Hoppock in numerous cases. After Hoppock failed to correct the problems, a panel of the Court ordered Hoppock to appear at a show cause hearing and then at a subsequent contempt hearing.

Summary of Opinion Analysis: Courts of this State have the inherent authority to hold an officer of the court who appears before a particular tribunal to be in contempt if the officer displays contemptuous conduct toward that court. Court reporters are officers of the court and fall under the Court's disciplinary authority. As an official court reporter, Hoppock has continually been delinquent in the completion of trial transcripts for appeals. He has been sanctioned numerous times in more than ten different cases. Hoppock ignored other efforts to compel compliance. Criminal contempt may be found only when the guilty party has willfully, deliberately and contumaciously ignored the court. Hoppock is in constructive criminal contempt of the Court for his repeated failures to file trial transcripts for appeals and to abide by the Court’s orders. The court reporter certification of William Hoppock is revoked, and Hoppock is required to pay all costs of the contempt proceedings in this matter.


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