##  [Complaint No. 1762108668 - 436087126](/complaint-no-1762108668-436087126) 

  [![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_500_x_500_/public/2025-11/MybyDCTbVddm8prBF309OGLw9yhDFdjvKnBr4quD.jpg?itok=fatv9X38)](/individual/franklin-jr-b-%20joyner)Franklin "JR" B Joyner

 









 

 



 

 

**[Chesterfield County Attorney](/south-carolina/chesterfield-county-attorney)**

178 Mill Street

Chesterfield, South Carolina 29709

[(843) 537-5204](tel:%28843%29537-5204)



[https://www.chester…](https://www.chesterfieldcountysc.com/county-attorney)





 

 



 

 







 

 



 

 

 





## Date of Offense

December 4, 2019





 

 



 

 

## Offense(s)

[Judicial Proceedings](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty/judicial-proceedings)





[Misleading Jury or Judge](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty/misleading-jury-or-judge)





[Obstruction of Justice](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty/obstruction-justice)





[Overcharging](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty/overcharging)





[Selective Prosecution](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty/selective-prosecution)





[Suppression of Witnesses or Evidence](/prosecutor-complaint-categories/duty-adjacent/suppression-witnesses-or-evidence)





 

 



 

 

 





## Reporting Authority

This complaint has been forwarded to the [South Carolina Bar](/south-carolina/south-carolina-bar)





 

 



 

 

 





## Statement

The Supreme Court characterized several statements in the State’s closing as “absolutely inexcusable” and found they “infected \[the\] trial with such a high degree of unfairness as to make \[the\] conviction a denial of due process.” Specifically, the assistant solicitor:

1. Misstated his role as “present\[ing\] the truth” and implied a statutory duty to decide truth, not present evidence—misleading jurors that his personal assessment had evidentiary weight.
2. Told jurors he would have “nolle prossed” (dismissed) the case if he believed someone else did it, signaling that his internal screening already determined Fortune’s guilt.
3. Denigrated defense counsel, asserting “the defense attorneys’ jobs are to manipulate the truth… shroud the truth… confuse jurors… \[and\] do whatever they have to—without regard for the truth.” The Court held this characterization of defense counsel’s role was inexcusable misconduct.