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The summary following each opinion is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what a particular opinion decides. The summary is not necessarily a full description of the issues discussed in an opinion.

28118 - State v. Charles Brandon Rampey

In this criminal sexual conduct case with a minor, the trial judge gave an Allen charge to the jury after approximately two hours and twenty minutes of deliberations. About an hour and fifteen minutes later, the jury returned with a not guilty verdict as to CSC Second and a guilty verdict as to CSC Third. Appellant, Charles Rampey, appealed, asserting the Allen charge was unconstitutionally coercive. The court of appeals reversed the conviction in an unpublished opinion, primarily citing to State v. Taylor, 427 S.C. 208. 829 S.E.2d 723 (Ct. App. 2019), and we affirm.

28119 - In the Matter of Elizabeth Anne Perkins

In this attorney disciplinary matter, the Court imposes a definite suspension.

28120 - State v. Angela D. Brewer

Angela Brewer was convicted of homicide by child abuse after her thirteen-month-old grandson died from drinking lemonade mixed with oxycodone. Brewer contends the court of appeals erred in upholding the trial court's admission of an interrogation video when she was under the influence of medication. This case also requires us to determine the scope of the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause when the State seeks to introduce the contents of a toxicology report from an out-of-state laboratory through a pathologist who did not perform the actual testing. The trial court concluded the toxicology report was not testimonial in nature, thereby removing it from the confines of the Sixth Amendment, and the court of appeals affirmed. While we find no error in admitting the interrogation video, we reverse Brewer's conviction and sentence based on a violation of the Confrontation Clause.