DORCHESTER COUNTY PROBATE COURT
101 Ridge Street
St. George, South Carolina 29477
Phone: (843) 843-832-0253
Mary Blunt, Probate Judge
Penny Merriman, Associate Probate Judge
Associate Judge, Penny M. Merriman Associate Judge Penny M. Merriman was born on August 11, 1952, in Easley, South Carolina. She is the daughter of Woodrow and Lucile Merritt of Easley. Upon graduation from Easley High School, Judge Merriman received a BA degree from Columbia College in 1973 and Masters Degree in Teaching from the University of South Carolina in 1974. Her Masters Degree was at the forefront at its time in addressing and understanding health and drug education, which has turned into a serious issue of today’s world. Following her graduate program, Judge Merriman worked as a public school teacher in Pickens County. Later, Judge Merriman carried her expertise in health and education to her valuable work as a coordinator of a federal health promotion grant from the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Environmental Control to identified risk groups in South Carolina. In this position, Judge Merriman used the federal grant to fund local projects aimed at reducing prevalent risk factors for poor health and then to disseminate the practices which were proven effective in promoting good health. In January 2009, Judge Mary Blunt appointed Penny Merriman to fill the position of Associate Probate Judge – a position dealing mainly with the Therapeutic Division of the Probate Court and a division focused on helping those in need with mental health and drug & alcohol therapy as well as helping their families. Prior to her appointment, Judge Merriman has served Dorchester County as a magistrate for four years – hearing a wide array of cases including search warrants, arrest warrants, landlord/tenants cases, small claims court as well as criminal court issues, and restraining orders. Through the respect of her peers, Judge Merriman rose to the position of associate chief before she retired as magistrate. Prior to serving as Magistrate, Judge Merriman was elected as a board member for Dorchester District Two Schools in 1998. Judge Merriman’s unique education background, her impressive courtroom experience, and her compassionate and caring nature made her an absolute “top pick” for the unique characteristics and qualities required of our Associate Probate Judge. Judge Merriman is married to Dr. Hugh G. Merriman. They live in Summerville where they raised three sons, Chase, Preston, and Wilson. |
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT PROCEDURES DURING OFFICE HOURS
In order to ensure that the Dorchester County Probate Court is fulfilling its statutory and
Constitutional role in the initial stages of the commitment process for persons alleged to be
chemically dependent or mentally ill, and with due regard for the convenience of family
members and agency personnel, the following procedures shall be effective immediately
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Emergencies:
The Dorchester County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse shall provide intake
evaluation and screening for Judicial commitment requests occurring during normal office
hours only. A Judicial Commitment is a commitment that is set into place after an application
has been filed with the Probate Court and the person has been examined by two designated
examiners who have been appointed by the Court and a hearing has been held. Family
members who are seeking help for alleged chemically dependent family members should
contact the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission to determine whether this procedure would
apply in their situation. [(843)871-4790]
Mental Illness/ Alcohol and Drug Abuse Emergencies:
(Adults 18 years old or older or a child sixteen or older): The Dorchester County Mental
Health Clinic shall provide intake evaluation and screening for all Mentally Ill Emergency
Commitment and all Emergency Chemically Dependent Commitment requests occurring during
normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The person seeking
the emergency commitment of another shall be directed to call the Dorchester County Mental
Health Clinic to speak directly with a counselor who will then assist the person over the
phone on what procedure to follow (Do not come to the Probate Court first, go to the
appropriate mental health center before coming to Probate Court). If there is a need for an
emergency admission, then the family member will be advised to come in and complete an
application for Emergency Admission for either Mental Illness or Chemically dependency. In
the event the person alleged to be chemically dependent or mentally ill refuses to go to the
hospital for an examination voluntarily and cannot be lawfully transported on other grounds,
then the Probate Court will be contacted by the appropriate facility for an issuance of Order
of Detention. This Order of Detention gives the Sheriff Department or Law Enforcement
offices authority to take the person into custody and transport the patient to the Dorchester
County Mental Health Clinic for an examination or to Trident Emergency Room, which ever is
convenient at the time after receiving the proper paperwork from the Petitioner or family
member. The Probate Court holds hearing once a week for emergency commitments on
Tuesday and twice a month for Judicial commitments, second and fourth Thursday of each
month.
Please take note of the telephone numbers listed below for your convenience:
DORCHESTER COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CLIINIC
873-5063
DORCHESTER COUNTY COMMISSION OF ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG ABUSE
871-4790
AFTER HOURS: MOBILE CRISIS UNIT
414-2350
For these simplified procedures to be effective, however, Law enforcement officers must
steer family members in the right direction. Please ask family members to use the procedures
which have been implemented above.
If these instructions are unclear, we invite you to contact the Probate Court and speak either
with Penny Merriman or Rebeccah Marchant (832-0253).