Judge ruling in local Republican Party squabble

Magistrate Will Derrick has ruled to settle a dispute between the former chairman of the Oconee Republican Party and those who are now in his place.  The ruling goes against ousted Chairman David McMahan and requires him, along with Mickey Haney, Thomas James, Shannon Baker, David Nix, Matthew Durham, and Perry Smith to turnover ownership and possession of certain assets belonging to the county party “to a good standing member of the South Carolina Republican Party executive committee.”  And the judge gives McMahan and the others just mentioned 10 days to comply with his order.  Listed as plaintiffs in the case are Tyler Jordan and Jim Mann.  McMahan considers himself still the chairman of the county party and a victim of false accusations, but Judge Derrick stated, “It is the legal duty of the Court in a claim and delivery action to determine who should have legal possession and if it is being wrongfully detained.  It is not the duty, role, or position of this Court to determine which individuals are in their respective roles legally or illegally.”