In re Chief Judges for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts
In re Chief Judges for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
The judges of the magisterial and municipal courts, hereinafter referred to as “summary courts”, of South Carolina being a part of the uniform statewide judicial system and pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, Article V, South Carolina Constitution,
IT IS ORDERED that the judges of the magisterial courts listed below be designated as Chief Judge or Associate Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts in the counties in which they hold office.
Judge S.G. Gladden, Abbeville County
Judge C.S. Insley, Aiken County
Judge D.H. Williamson, Associate Chief, Judge Aiken County
Judge W.D. Branch, Jr., Allendale County
Judge N.W. Devine, Anderson County
Judge R.C. Threatt, Bamberg County
Judge J.W. Gantt, Barnwell County
Judge L.J. Holland, Jr., Associate Chief Judge, Barnwell County
Judge L.P. McElynn, Beaufort County
Judge R.H. Sproatt, Associate Chief Judge, Beaufort County
Judge A.E. Bryant, Berkeley County
Judge R.H. Lake, Calhoun County
Judge E.S. Steinberg, Charleston County
Judge L. Linen, Associate Chief Judge, Charleston County
Judge R.B. Howell, Cherokee County
Judge Y. Zamore, Chester County
Judge D.W. Dyches, Associate Chief Judge, Chesterfield County
Judge J.L. Coney, Clarendon County
Judge K.A. Campbell Jr., Colleton County
Judge J.R. Edwards, Darlington County
Judge D.B. Curtis, Associate Chief Judge, Darlington County
Judge M.D. Hayes, Dillon County
Judge C.D. Spivey, Associate Chief Judge, Dillon County
Judge K.L. Patton, Dorchester County
Judge P.B. Shelbourne, Associate Chief Judge, Dorchester County
Judge B.B. Carpenter, Edgefield County
Judge W.F. Pope, Fairfield County
Judge S.M. Grimsley, Florence County
Judge I.L. Pyatt, Georgetown County
Judge L. Foster, Greenville County
Judge M.C. Edmonds, Associate Chief Judge, Greenville County
Judge B.S. McGuire, Greenwood County
Judge C.R. Johnson, Associate Chief Judge, Greenwood County
Judge C.A. Williams, Hampton County
Judge M.B. Livingston, Horry County
Judge A.C. Butler, Associate Chief Judge, Horry County
Judge S.J. McDonald, Jasper County
Judge D.D. Lynah, Associate Chief Judge, Jasper County
Judge R.M. Todd, Jr. Kershaw County
Judge W.D. Corbett, Associate Chief Judge, Kershaw County
Judge J.M. Pope, Lancaster County
Judge P.D. Lyles, Laurens County
Judge G.R. Gibson, Lee County
Judge S.C. Davidson, Associate Chief Judge, Lee County
Judge G.W. Reinhart, Lexington County
Judge D.O. Barker, Marion County
Judge R.K. McDonald, Marlboro County
Judge P.L. Smith, McCormick County
Judge B.S. Koon, Newberry County
Judge M.T. Simmons, Oconee County
Judge B.A. Norton, Associate Chief Judge, Oconee County
Judge D.F. Dash, Orangeburg County
Judge P.D. Doremus, Associate Chief Judge, Orangeburg County
Judge B.E. Anders, Pickens County
Judge D.J. Simons, Richland County
Judge K.D. Shealy, Associate Chief Judge, Richland County
Judge J.B. Shults, Saluda County
Judge D.J. Turner, Spartanburg County
Judge J.T. Wall, Associate Chief Judge, Spartanburg County
Judge K.F. Curtis, Sumter County
Judge B.K. Griffin, Associate Chief Judge, Sumter County
Judge J.D. Crocker, Union County
Judge J.D. Bailey, Associate Chief Judge, Union County
Judge D.F. Williams, Williamsburg County
Judge R.B. Foxworth, Associate Chief Judge, Williamsburg County
Judge L.H. Benfíeld, York County
Judge R. Davenport, Jr., Associate Chief Judge, York County
A Chief Judges’ authority shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Coordinate with the Office of South Carolina Court Administration on all matters pertaining to summary court judges in the county.
2. Coordinate the activities of the summary court judges of the county with other affected persons and/or agencies to insure cooperation and effective judicial service.
4. Establish within the county a procedure to ensure that Certificates of Transmittal are completed and the appropriate documents (warrants or other charging papers, checklists, bond forms, and checks for cash bonds received) are attached and transmitted within fifteen (15) days to the appropriate magistrate, municipal judge or Clerk of Court of General Sessions having jurisdiction over the case.
5. Call a meeting at least on a quarterly basis of all summary court judges in the county to formulate procedures which establish uniformity of procedures in the county summary court system. Require that all summary court judges who have court bank accounts bring to the quarterly meetings documentary proof of all monthly reconciliations of those bank accounts since the previous quarterly meeting. A minimum of one municipal judge from each municipality
6. Coordinate the planning of budgets for the magistrates in the county, with those magistrates’ input, and appear before the county governing body to present and justify the budget requests.
7. Attend schools and meetings for Chief Judges called to implement policies and procedures under this and other Orders.
8. Set terms of court, both civil and criminal, when terms are necessary for the disposition of any cases within the jurisdiction of the magisterial court.
9. Provide for the orderly assignments of any case within the jurisdiction of the magisterial court to any magistrate of the county, regardless of whether the case is transferred from circuit court or originally filed in the magisterial court.
10. Designate the hours of operation of each magistrate’s court office in the county, and designate the hours during which each magistrate shall be present in the office, based upon the number of hours fixed for each magistrate by the county governing body.
11. Collect from the other magistrates in the county on a quarterly basis and review information concerning the age of pending civil and criminal cases to insure that all civil cases are disposed of within ninety days of filing and that criminal cases are disposed of within sixty days of arrest.
12. When any summary court judge in the county dies, retires, is suspended, goes out of office, becomes incapacitated, is unable to perform the duties of their office, and when a successor has not been nominated or qualified, the Chief Judge shall immediately take custody, or provide for the orderly transfer, of all records, to include past and present, civil and criminal docket books, warrant books, receipt books, financial records including official checking account statements and stubs, bank accounts and any funds contained therein, Acts and Joint Resolutions, the Code of Laws, Bench Books, pending and disposed warrants, tickets, NRVC’s, and other court records.
13. Insure that the Office of Court Administration is provided written notification of the appointment, retirement,
14. Appoint, coordinate, and assign constables throughout the County, in those Counties that utilize constables, so as to insure cooperation and effective judicial service.
15. Establish within the county a procedure with all summary court judges and appropriate public officials to ensure that court generated revenues are collected, distributed, and reported in an appropriate and timely manner.
16. Monitor all requests for recusals countywide. When all magistrates have recused themselves from a particular case in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, the Chief Judge shall request from the Chief Justice, by and through Court Administration, a judge from outside of that County be assigned to dispose of the case by order of the Chief Justice.
17. Report to the Office of Court Administration any significant or repetitive non-compliance by any summary court judge in the county concerning the Chief Judge’s execution of the provisions of this Order.
No order issued by the Chief Judge under the authority of this Order shall be effective unless the order is filed with the Office of South Carolina Court Administration and approved for consistency with statewide administrative policies.
Associate Chief Judges appointed in this Order shall act in the absence or disability of the Chief Judge. They shall also perform administrative duties that are assigned to them by the Chief Judges.
The authority conferred on the Chief Judges and Associate Chief Judges for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts by this Order shall become effective on January 1, 2016 and shall continue through June 30, 2016 unless amended or revoked by Order of the Chief Justice.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Re CHIEF JUDGES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES OF THE SUMMARY COURTS
- Status
- Published