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Courts in South Carolina
| More information on South Carolina's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In South Carolina, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through South Carolina's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
Selection of state court judges in South Carolina occurs through legislative election.[1] South Carolina is one of only two states in the country where judges are elected by the general assembly rather than by the governor or people. The other is Virginia.[2] If a mid-term vacancy occurs with less than one year remaining on an unexpired term, the governor may fill the vacancy.[1]
Federal courts
The federal district court in South Carolina is the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. This court may hear appeals from state courts and is also the point of origination for federal cases and lawsuits.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 1990 - |
University of the South, 1968 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1975 |
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| August 9, 2010 - |
Duke University, 1975 |
Duke University School of Law, 1979 |
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| September 26, 2011 - |
University of South Carolina, 1983 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1986 |
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| June 20, 2012 - |
Clemson University, 1980 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1984 |
||
| June 5, 2014 - |
College of Charleston, 1983 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1990 |
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| November 20, 2017 - |
Clemson University, 1981 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1984 |
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| December 10, 2019 - |
Clemson University, 1983 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1987 |
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| December 22, 2020 - |
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, 1991 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1997 |
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| January 29, 2024 - |
University of South Carolina, 1989 |
University of South Carolina School of Law, 1996 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 5
- Republican appointed: 4
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in South Carolina. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in South Carolina is:
State supreme court
- See also: South Carolina Supreme Court
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships.[3] The current chief of the court is John Kittredge.[4]
As of August 2024, all five judges on the court were appointed by the South Carolina State Legislature.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice | John C. Few | Nonpartisan | February 9, 2016 |
| South Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice | D. Garrison Hill | Nonpartisan | February 8, 2023 |
| South Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice | George C. James Jr. | Nonpartisan | February 7, 2017 |
| South Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice | Letitia H. Verdin | Nonpartisan | July 31, 2024 |
| South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice | John Kittredge | Nonpartisan | July 30, 2024 |
State court of appeals
- See also: South Carolina Court of Appeals
The South Carolina Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in South Carolina. The Court of Appeals was established on September 1, 1983. It consists of a chief judge and eight associate judges who are elected by the state legislature for six-year terms. The court hears cases either as a small panel of three judges or as a whole, and it may hear oral arguments and motions in any county of the state.[5]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
February 6, 2008 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
May 28, 2014 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
January 1, 2022 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
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June 3, 2004 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
February 5, 2025 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
June 18, 2007 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
July 31, 2008 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
January 1, 2020 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
|
|
November 4, 2024 - Present |
South Carolina General Assembly |
Trial courts
Circuit courts
- See also: South Carolina Circuit Courts
The South Carolina Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in South Carolina. The circuit courts also have limited appellate authority over lower trial courts and governmental agencies.[6]
Masters-in-equity
- See also: South Carolina Masters-in-Equity
The Masters-in-Equity courts are courts in South Carolina that hear cases referred to them by the South Carolina Circuit Courts and have the same power and authority as the circuit courts without the jury.[7]
Family courts
- See also: South Carolina Family Courts
The Family Courts are courts in South Carolina that have jurisdiction over cases involving domestic and family issues. The family courts are divided into the same judicial districts as the circuit courts.[8]
Magistrate courts
- See also: South Carolina Magistrate Courts
The Magistrate Courts are courts in South Carolina that have jurisdiction over trial cases involving offenses with a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.[9]
Municipal courts
- See also: South Carolina Municipal Courts
The Municipal Courts are courts in South Carolina that have jurisdiction over offenses that violate their respective municipality ordinances, and over all offenses which are subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.[10]
Probate courts
- See also: South Carolina Probate Courts
The Probate Courts are courts in South Carolina that have jurisdiction over items such as marriages, estates, and guardianships.[11]
To read more about judicial elections in South Carolina, click here.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: South Carolina," archived April, 16, 2021
- ↑ Commonwelath of Virginia Division of Legislative Services, "Judicial Selection Overview," April 10, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Supreme Court," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ News From the States, "Meet John Kittredge, SC’s next chief justice," March 6, 2024
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Court of Appeals," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Circuit Court," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Masters-In-Equity," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Family Court," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Magistrate Court," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Municipal Court," accessed March 15, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Judicial Branch, "Probate Court," accessed March 15, 2021
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of South Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of South Carolina
State courts:
South Carolina Supreme Court • South Carolina Court of Appeals • South Carolina Circuit Courts • South Carolina Masters-in-Equity • South Carolina Family Courts • South Carolina Magistrate Courts • South Carolina Municipal Courts • South Carolina Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in South Carolina • South Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in South Carolina
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