“This Court is at a loss as to why the Plaintiff’s (Jeff Davis) present medical situation exists when four doctors agreed that full recovery should have already occurred.”
A Newberry County Circuit Court judge has issued a new order in the long-running civil case involving the current Greenville County Republican Party Chairman, Jeff Davis, requiring sworn medical affidavits to justify continued delays in court proceedings.
This time, Circuit Court Judge Donald B. Hocker issued the order without a hearing, marking the fourth order entered since the South Carolina Court of Appeals issued guidance in late 2024.
In a prior order issued in May 2025, the court anticipated scheduling a hearing on pending appellate stay matters by November 2025 based on medical opinions from treating physicians indicating Davis would be able to resume normal activities. When the court recently attempted to schedule a hearing, Davis reported that he could not attend due to ongoing medical treatment.
Judge Hocker wrote that while the court cannot conclude the plaintiff's medical condition has not changed, there appears to be a possible contradiction between prior medical opinions and current representations. The judge stated that the court is at a loss to explain the current medical situation, given that four doctors previously agreed that full recovery should have already occurred.
The court ordered a short additional delay and required sworn affidavits from treating physicians. Those affidavits must explain the current medical condition, why it prevents courtroom appearance, and the plaintiff's present and future ability to engage in normal as well as busy political activities. The affidavits must be submitted by February 19, 2026.
This case has drawn public attention because it stems from a high-profile civil dispute that has already been appealed to the South Carolina Court of Appeals. After the appellate court issued its December 2024 directive, the Newberry County trial court resumed oversight of remaining matters, including whether enforcement of prior rulings should be stayed pending further appellate activity.
Repeated continuances based on medical claims have slowed final resolution, and the latest order indicates that the court now requires direct sworn confirmation from treating physicians rather than relying solely on the plaintiff's questionable representations.
This lawsuit began with Jeff Davis as the plaintiff, pursuing claims against multiple defendants and an unusually large number of John Does. Over the course of appellate review and trial court proceedings, the case’s stance shifted, leaving Davis facing enforcement of prior court rulings and contempt findings rather than actively prosecuting his original claims. The current orders reflect the reversal; the plaintiff is now required to justify continued delays, while the original defendants seek final resolution. The irony: the plaintiff has become the defendant in his own case.
While the Court of Appeals issued a separate ruling last month declining to vacate a contempt order in this case, the Newberry County trial court continues to operate under a December 2024 appellate directive that returned the matter to the trial level for further proceedings. The judge’s reference to the December 2024 order reflects the point at which trial court jurisdiction resumed, not the later appellate decision that simply left an existing contempt ruling in place.
The order was signed by Judge Hocker in Laurens, South Carolina, on January 18, 2026, where the judge granted a brief continuance. The next move now belongs to the medical professionals whose sworn statements will either confirm the need for further delay or clear the path for the court to proceed. Courts may grant patience. But patience is not infinite. And sworn truth has a way of bringing stalled cases back into the light.
