Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is comprised of five members each of whom is elected by the
General Assembly for ten years and so classified that the term of one
shall end every two years.
In order to be eligible for the Supreme Court,
a candidate must be a citizen of the United States and of South Carolina,
be at least thirty-two years of age, have been a licensed attorney at law for at least eight
years, and have been a resident of South Carolina for five years
next preceding his election.
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals has nine judges
who are elected to six year terms; the judges may sit in panels of
three or as a whole; appellate jurisdiction includes questions of law and equity
arising from the circuit court and family court, except for: (1) appeals involving
murder cases, (2) appeals from the circuit court setting public utility rates,
(3) appeals involving a constitutional challenge to state stature or local
ordinance, (4) appeals involving state or local bonds or other indebtedness,
(5) appeals pertaining to elections, (6) an order limiting the investigation
by a State Grand Jury, and (7) an order of the family court relating to an abortion
by a minor. These seven classes of cases continue to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
In order to be eligible for the Court of Appeals, a candidate must be a citizen of
the United States and of South Carolina, be at least thirty-two years of age, have been
a licensed attorney at law for at least eight years, and have been a resident of
South Carolina for five years next preceding his election.
Circuit Court
There are forty-six circuit court judges in South Carolina
(three new seats were created in 1997); thirty-three elected by the
General Assembly from the sixteen judicial circuits for six-year terms;
and thirteen elected by the General Assembly from the state at large for six-year terms.
The circuit court handles both the trial level civil (common pleas) and criminal
(general sessions) cases in South Carolina.
In order to be eligible for the circuit court, a candidate must be a citizen
of the United States and of South Carolina, be at least thirty-two years of
age, have been a licensed attorney at law for at least eight years,
and have been a resident of South Carolina for five years next preceding his election.
Masters-in-Equity
There are twenty-two masters-in-equity serving counties with populations of 130,000
or more. Masters are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of
the General Assembly for six-year terms.
In order to be eligible for appointment as a master-in-equity,
a candidate must be a citizen of the United States and of South Carolina,
be at least thirty-two years of age, have been a licensed attorney at law
for at least eight years, have been a resident of South Carolina for five
years next preceding his election, and have been found qualified by the
Judicial Merit Selection Commission.
Family Court
There are fifty-two family court judges in
South Carolina (three new seats created in 1997).
Judges are elected by the General Assembly for six-year terms.
The family court handles cases involving domestic actions and juveniles.
In order to be eligible for the office of Family Court Judge,
a candidate must be a citizen of the United States and of South Carolina,
be at least thirty-two years of age, have been a licensed attorney at
law for at least eight years, and have been a resident of this state for five years
next preceding his election. He must be a resident of the circuit wherein
the family court of which he is a judge is located.
Administrative Law Court
The Administrative Law Court was created in 1993. The name was changed to
Administrative Law Court in 2004. The division has six administrative law judges.
The terms of office are five years and are classified so
that the term of at least one judge ends each year. Each judge hears
contested cases as defined in Section 1-23-310, conducts public hearings on
the promulgation of regulations, and hears appeals from certain final decisions.
In order to be eligible for election as an ALJ,
a candidate must be a citizen of the United States and
of South Carolina, be at least thirty-two years of age, have been a
licensed attorney at law for at least eight years, and have been a
resident of South Carolina for five years next preceding his election.
Other agencies within the judicial system in South Carolina:
Commission on Judicial Conduct
James W. Johnson, Jr., Chairman
1015 Sumter Street, Suite 111
Columbia, SC 29201
803-734-1965
Advisory Committee on Standards of Judicial Conduct
A. Camden Lewis, Chairman
P.O. Box 11208
Columbia, SC 29211
Commission on Lawyer Conduct
Lesley M. Coggiola, Disciplinary Counsel
Contact: Barbara W. Hinson
P.O. Box 12159
Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2038
South Carolina Court Administration
Rosalyn W. Frierson, Director
1015 Sumter Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
803-734-1800
