Sanford lawyers facing deadline in ethics case

Gov. Mark Sanford’s lawyers face a noon deadline to file final arguments in a case the state Supreme Court will take up that would keep a state panel from sharing a report about the governor with the House.
   
Tuesday’s deadline comes as the court agreed to take the case and hear oral arguments on Oct. 19.
   
Sanford’s lawyers argue the House, which is considering possible impeachment, has no authority to act as a prosecutor and therefore can’t get a copy of the State Ethics Commission report.
   
The investigation should be completed by the end of the month. The commission would then decide if Sanford’s use of state planes for personal and political purposes and other issues broke state law.