South Carolina Circuit Court
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina Circuit Court is the state court of general jurisdiction
of the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. It consists of a civil
division (the Court of Common Pleas) and a criminal
division (the Court of General Sessions).
The Circuit Court is the state trial court
of general jurisdiction in South Carolina. It is also a superior court
, having limited appellate jurisdiction
over appeals from the lower
Probate Court, Magistrate's Court, and Municipal Court, and appeals from the Administrative Law Judge
Division, which hears matters relating to state administrative and regulatory agencies
.
South Carolina's 46 counties are divided into 16 judicial circuits:
Each has at least one resident circuit judge who maintains an office in his or her home county within the circuit. There are currently 46 circuit judges who serve the 16 circuits on a rotating basis. Court terms and assignments determined by the Chief Justice based upon recommendations of Court Administration. Circuit court judges are elected by the South Carolina General Assembly
to staggered terms of six years.
General jurisdiction
A court of general jurisdiction is one that has the authority to hear cases of all kinds - criminal, civil, family, probate, and so forth.-Courts of general jurisdiction in the United States:All federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Many U.S...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It consists of a civil
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
division (the Court of Common Pleas) and a criminal
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
division (the Court of General Sessions).
The Circuit Court is the state trial court
Trial court
A trial court or court of first instance is a court in which trials take place. Such courts are said to have original jurisdiction.- In the United States :...
of general jurisdiction in South Carolina. It is also a superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, having limited appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction is the power of the Supreme Court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right...
over appeals from the lower
Lower court
A lower court is a court from which an appeal may be taken. In relation to an appeal from one court to another, the lower court is the court whose decision is being reviewed, which may be the original trial court or an appellate court lower in rank than the superior court which is hearing the...
Probate Court, Magistrate's Court, and Municipal Court, and appeals from the Administrative Law Judge
Administrative law judge
An administrative law judge in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is usually the initial trier of fact and decision maker...
Division, which hears matters relating to state administrative and regulatory agencies
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
.
South Carolina's 46 counties are divided into 16 judicial circuits:
- First Circuit - CalhounCalhoun County, South CarolinaCalhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 15,185; a 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 15,100. It is named for John C. Calhoun, the former U.S. Vice-President, Senator, Representative and cabinet member from South...
, Orangeburg, Dorchester - Second Circuit - AikenAiken County, South CarolinaAiken County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099...
, BarnwellBarnwell County, South Carolina-History:The Barnwell District was created in 1798 from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River...
, BambergBamberg County, South Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,658 people, 6,123 households, and 4,255 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 7,130 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile... - Third Circuit - Lee, Sumter, Clarendon, Williamsburg
- Fourth Circuit - Dillon, ChesterfieldChesterfield County, South Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,768 people, 16,557 households, and 11,705 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 18,818 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Darlington, Marlboro - Fifth Circuit - Kershaw, RichlandRichland County, South CarolinaRichland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 U.S. census recorded its population to be 320,677. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded that its population had reached 384,504. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville...
- Sixth Circuit - ChesterChester County, South CarolinaChester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 34,068; in 2005 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had dropped to 33,228. Its county seat is Chester.-Geography and climate:...
, Fairfield, Lancaster - Seventh Circuit - CherokeeCherokee County, South CarolinaCherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's...
, Spartanburg - Eighth Circuit - AbbevilleAbbeville County, South CarolinaAbbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2010, its population was 25,147. Its county seat is Abbeville. It is the first county in the United States alphabetically.-History:...
, Newberry, Laurens, Greenwood - Ninth Circuit - BerkeleyBerkeley County, South CarolinaBerkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,651. The 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 151,673. Its county seat is Moncks Corner....
, CharlestonCharleston County, South CarolinaCharleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South... - Tenth Circuit - Oconee, AndersonAnderson County, South Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 187,126 people and 70,597 households residing in the county. The population density was 260.6 people per square mile . There were 84,092 housing units...
- Eleventh Circuit - McCormick, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda
- Twelfth Circuit - FlorenceFlorence County, South CarolinaFlorence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...
, Marion - Thirteenth Circuit - Pickens, GreenvilleGreenville County, South Carolina- External Links :*...
- Fourteenth Circuit - AllendaleAllendale County, South Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households and 2,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
, Colleton, Hampton, BeaufortBeaufort County, South Carolina-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
, Jasper - Fifteenth Circuit - Georgetown, HorryHorry County, South CarolinaHorry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
- Sixteenth Circuit - YorkYork County, South CarolinaYork County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
, Union
Each has at least one resident circuit judge who maintains an office in his or her home county within the circuit. There are currently 46 circuit judges who serve the 16 circuits on a rotating basis. Court terms and assignments determined by the Chief Justice based upon recommendations of Court Administration. Circuit court judges are elected by the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
to staggered terms of six years.
External links
- Official information from the South Carolina Judicial Department