“Four years to prove myself” — says Oconee’s newest judge

A son of a retired sheriff was introduced this afternoon to a crowded courtroom as Oconee County’s next probate judge.  The black robe that Danny Singleton now wears is the apparel for him to make decisions on estates, individual commitments, and one traditional joy of a probate judge, conduct marriage ceremonies.  Today’s ceremony featured Clerk of Court Lisa Burton and Resident Circuit Judge Scott Sprouse administering the oaths to which Singleton, a retired municipal judge, shall abide during the next four years in office.  The oath Sprouse gave stressed integrity and independence, and that’s something Singleton picked up on his acceptance remarks when he recalled how much he focused on ethics when he served as president of the South Carolina Summary Court Judges Association.  A couple of those members from the Columbia and Sumter areas spoke at the swearing-in, and they talked of what a good job Singleton did in as the titular head of South Carolina’s small court jurists.  Resident state senator Thomas Alexander delivered congratulatory remarks.  A faithful Presbyterian, Alexander borrowed words from the Bible including wisdom, knowledge, patience, and perseverance – all attributes, Alexander says, that Danny Singleton will bring to the office of county probate judge.