Council wants judge's pets out of courthouse

ST. GEORGE -- The new $13 million courthouse has gone to the dogs. Specifically, the circuit judge's dogs.

Judge Diane Goodstein is not averse to bringing her cuddly Cavalier King Charles spaniel lap dog to work. Or the mid-size Boykin spaniel. Or the lanky Airedale for that matter.

There even have been some complaints and reports of, umm, "accidents."

Dorchester County Council wants to put a stop to it, but there's just one little problem. According to state law, council can't set rules for what goes on in the courthouse it owns. Only the clerk of court can. So council has told County Attorney John Frampton to draft a letter "requesting" that animals, except for service animals, not be allowed on the premises.

"The taxpayers paying for the building don't bring their dogs to work. Other county employees don't bring their dogs to work. Frankly, I'm surprised I'm having to make this request," Council Chairman Jamie Feltner said.

"What's good for one ought to be good for all," Councilman Willie Davis said .

The judge, who routinely brought her pets to the old courthouse that was vacated earlier this year, gave a surprised laugh when asked about the request.

"It's a little bit of an embarrassment that it would be an issue," she said. Her dogs are housebroken, trained and haven't soiled the courthouse, she said. She thinks she might have started the "accident" rumor one day when she got down on her hands and knees to clean a construction worker's mud tracks from the floor.

The request leaves County Clerk of Court Cheryl Graham, a pet lover and Frances Willis SPCA board member, in an awkward spot. Her job is to work closely with the judge.

"That's mighty nice of the council to put that on me," she said.

Animals haven't been strangers to the court; they have been brought in to accommodate scheduling issues such as veterinarian appointments, and occasionally for personal security outside of normal business hours. They have had their place -- her dog once sniffed out a rat at the old courthouse. "It's nothing new. It's nothing that's been hidden," Graham said.

Councilman Bill Hearn, who has seen judges with animals in their offices during his 20 years of practicing law, said he voted against sending the letter because it conflicted with state law. "We're sticking our nose into some place we shouldn't be," he said.

But the letter is on its way. Graham said she will wait to see it before deciding what she will do.

Goodstein has no intention of causing any angst in "absolutely the most beautiful courthouse," she said. "I will absolutely comply with what my clerk of court requests me to do."

Reach Bo Petersen at 937-5744.