Magistrate removed from office

Spartanburg Magistrate Johnny Cash was removed from office Monday by the state Supreme Court for engaging in two separate cases of adultery with court employees.

Cash's actions failed to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, stated an order signed by Chief Justice Jean Toal.

Toal had demoted Cash from chief magistrate to regular magistrate in March 2005. Toal gave no reason for the demotion at the time.

Monday's court order stated Cash's actions went beyond marital infidelity.

One of the women "believed she could not refuse his advances," according to the order.

The woman told investigators that she feared losing her job because she was already in a difficult employment position.

She said she had been confiding her job-related fears in Cash and had been surprised by his sexual advances.

However, she also said that they had had a flirtatious friendship and engaged in intimate relations on a second occasion.

Cash, 47, believed the sexual activity was "mutually desired," the order stated. He would not comment Monday.

Cash's second affair was with a woman he married in November 2005, after his wife divorced him in August.

The order stated the ongoing affair included activity on two out-of-town court-related seminars.

A promotion

Shortly before they began having an affair, Cash also promoted the court employee, according to the order.

Cash told investigators that her promotion was based on merit but the order stated he "acknowledged that, in hindsight, it may have had the appearance of being based on favoritism."

Cash said that both he and the woman had been in failed marriages and eventually "fell in love," the order stated.

Cash's removal came nine months after his divorce. State disciplinary counsel Henry B. Richardson Jr. said that the removal process was followed and that it can be lengthy.

An agreement between Cash and court investigators limits the information available about the affairs and the investigation into Cash to what is in the court order.

Spartanburg County's senators must now recommend Cash's successor for appointment by Gov. Mark Sanford.

Local senators said Monday, however, that they had no timeframe for replacing Cash.

Glenn Reese, D-Boiling Springs, said he'd like to have it done before the legislative session ends June 1.

Magistrate Court appointments have recently been a heated point of contention between local senators.

Cash became a magistrate in 1998. He was receiving a salary of $68,000, according to Spartanburg County records.

Current Chief Magistrate Robert Hall said losing Cash would not noticeably affect the workings of magistrate court.

"We will continue to function," Hall said. "We'll get the job done."

Hall also said Cash's current wife would continue to be employed in her position.

Alexander Morrison can be reached at 562-7215 or alex.morrison@shj.com.

Staff writer Robert W. Dalton contributed to this story.