The Supreme Court of South Carolina

                         Michael Smith, Petitioner,

                             v.

                          State of South Carolina, Respondent.

                          Appellate Case No. 2021-000240

 Calhoun County

Docket No.:  2004-GS-09-00145; 00202

ORDER

Petitioner filed a motion on July 21, 2016 for resentencing pursuant to Aiken v. Byars, 410 S.C. 534, 765 S.E.2d 572 (2014).  By order dated August 2, 2016, the Honorable G. Thomas Cooper, Jr. was assigned exclusive jurisdiction over this matter.  I find this case needs to be reassigned.  Now, therefore, pursuant to Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Honorable Maite Murphy be vested with exclusive jurisdiction over the Petitioner's Motion for Resentencing in the above-captioned matter.  

Judge Murphy shall at all times be vested with concurrent jurisdiction in all circuits of the state to dispose of matters relating to this case, and shall decide all matters pertaining to the Petitioner's Motion, and shall retain jurisdiction over this matter regardless of where she may be assigned to hold court, and may schedule such hearings as may be necessary at any time without regard as to whether there is a term of court scheduled. 

If necessary, to resolve issues related to the appointment of counsel, a hearing shall be conducted within thirty (30) days of this order.

Within sixty (60) days of the date of this order, Judge Murphy shall issue a scheduling order setting forth the schedule that shall be followed in this matter, including the date of the hearing on the merits.  The scheduling order may be amended as necessary. 

Columbia, South Carolina
August 12, 2021