Carla Deering appointed magistrate judge after Robert Cooper's retirement

The magistrate’s office in Williston looks a bit different after one judge retired, one was promoted, and another was sworn in.

Judge Robert Cooper recently retired after 13 years serving the county. Filling his shoes will be weekend magistrate Judge Jason Stapleton, who is in his fourth year as a magistrate. Stepping into Judge Stapleton’s former weekend role will be newly sworn-in Judge Carla Deering.

Judge Cooper’s retirement and service was honored by family, friends, and colleagues on June 10 at the Williston Town Hall. Judge Cooper retired after turning 72, the state mandated retirement age for judges.

“Your unwavering commitment to upholding justice, fairness, and the rules of law have been instrumental in maintaining the integrity of our legal system and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community,” said Williston Mayor Brett Williams.

Judge Cooper was presented with a plaque from the Town of Williston, as well as from associate chief and Blackville’s magistrate Judge Jimmy Gantt Jr. on behalf of the judicial circuit.

“It’s been a great 13 years, and it went by a lot faster than I thought it would have,” said Cooper, who has served since 2011.

Throughout his service, Cooper used common sense and empathy to guide his interpretation and following of the law.

He states he has “always been prone to do as much as I can to help the young individuals,” such as finding supportive programming and teaching them about how the judicial system works so they do not have to be on that side of it again.

Embarking on a similar journey is Williston resident Carla Deering, who on July 12 was sworn in as a magistrate judge holding the same Bible she has prayed with since childhood.

“It is an honor to have been nominated and now appointed through the S.C. Senate to serve. I plan to do the best job that I can for the Barnwell County Magistrate system and our state as a whole,” she said.

Judge Deering took the oath of office in the Barnwell County Courthouse surrounded by family, colleagues, and friends.

She enters this position as she enters her 20th year in the judicial field. She got her start as a crime victim advocate in the second circuit solicitor's office representing Barnwell and surrounding counties in 2004 after graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2003 with a bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice.

Deering can look back through her career and pinpoint the exact time she knew she wanted to work in the judicial system while in college.

“That was when an adjunct professor of mine was also a victim advocate in the solicitor’s office in Richland County. Hearing her stories sealed the deal for me,” she said.

Deering primarily worked with victims of violent crimes in Aiken County until 2011, when she left to raise her children.

Shortly into her at-home job raising her kids, she was offered a part-time position at a private law firm. She later began working with Alexander & Alexander Law Firm in Barnwell as a paralegal.

“The private sector offered me the flexibility to work, but yet have plenty of time with small children, who are now older, and I was always there to pick them up from school,” said Deering. “I have never looked back or once thought about changing the field I’m in.”

Deering finds her experience in both public government and private sector law has helped prepare her with a “strong knowledge of the legal system and a common sense understanding of the fundamentals and how the systems all work together,” she said.

Magistrate judges are responsible for conducting a variety of judicial proceedings such as bond hearings in criminal matters, issuing arrest and search warrants, and observing initial appearances and arraignments in magistrate offices. They are appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the state senate, and serve four-year terms.

Deering’s passion for the judicial field comes from her desire to learn more and be a better public servant.

“The longer you’re in a career the broader your knowledge becomes and the more confidence you gain,” said Deering.
She also attributes her passion for her work to those she has worked with in the second circuit.

“I've worked with and for what I believe are some of the best our state has to offer. I’ve made life-lasting relationships with so many wonderful, encouraging folks,” she said. “Serving as magistrate will give me another opportunity to work with some great people.”

Lastly, but importantly, she is driven by her family who carries “strong ties and love for our community,” she said. She and her husband, Andy, have two children - Abby and Luke.

Outside of her judicial roles, Deering is a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) with the Cass Elias McCarter GAL program which serves as the voice for children primarily in foster care through state and court actions. Through the S.C. Department of Children’s Advocacy, this program recruits, trains, supervises, and supports court appointed volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Since 2010, every child dealing with an abuse or neglect case in the state’s family court system has been appointed someone like Deering to be their advocate. According to the program’s website, they serve more than 14,000 children per year.

Deering, like Cooper, shares a passion for helping youth navigate the judicial system in an educational and supportive manner.

Recently, Deering was able to share a part in bringing together siblings placed in different foster/adoptive homes.

“Both of these families get the girls together to at least have contact with their siblings, it truly is a wonderful outcome,” said Deering. “It was quite a feeling of happiness for these children and the adoptive families.”

On days where she is tasked with helping in a case like this, or being the support system for a child experiencing neglect and the often overwhelming court process, Deering relies on her faith.

“My faith is what sustains me on the good and the bad days,” she said.

As an active member of the Elko Baptist Church for 18 years, Deering serves as an adult and children’s Sunday school teacher, serves on the children and families ministry, and serves on the constitution and bylaws committee.

She is thankful for a “wonderful church family.”

Deering will work out of the Williston Magistrate Office (12445 E. Main St., Williston). Call the Williston Magistrate Office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (803) 266-3700.