South Carolina Supreme Court
| South Carolina Supreme Court | |||
 | |||
| Court information | |||
| Justices: | 5 | ||
| Location: | Columbia, South Carolina | ||
| Judicial selection | |||
| Method: | Legislative election of judges | ||
| Term: | 10 years | ||
| Active justices | |||
|
Jean Hoefer Toal • Costa Pleicones • Donald Beatty • John Kittredge • Kaye Hearn • | |||
| Former justices | |||
Contents |
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Carolina. The court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices. Judges are selected by the legislature of South Carolina to serve terms of ten years. There is no prohibition against justices serving multiple terms on the court.
Justices
The current justices of the court are:| Judge | Term | Appointed by | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal | 1998 - present | Democratic | |
| Justice Costa Pleicones | 1991 - present | ||
| Justice Donald Beatty | 2003 - present | Democratic | |
| Justice John Kittredge | 2003 - present | ||
| Justice Kaye Hearn | 1995 - present |
Chief justice
Jean Hoefer Toal currently serves as Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Justice Toal was re-elected in 2004 for a ten-year term. Her term expires in 2014. Judge Hoefer Toal is a Democrat.
Jurisdiction
The court has original and appellate jurisdiction. It has exclusive appellate jurisdiction for all state cases regarding the death penalty, state utility rates, judgments involving public bonded indebtedness and elections, and orders limiting state grand juries and relating to abortions by minors. Original jurisdiction pertains to the issuance writs including mandamus, certiorari, and extraordinary bills. Additionally, the court has the responsibility of overseeing the admission of individuals to practice law in the state. It also supervises the discipline of attorneys and suspension of those no longer able to practice due to mental or physical condition.
Judicial selection
The South Carolina Supreme Court has five justices, one Chief Justice and four Associate Justices. Justices are elected to ten year terms.[1] South Carolina and Virginia are the only states where lawmakers alone select judges.
Qualifications
According to Section 2-19-35(A) of the South Carolina Constitution, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission considers "constitutional qualifications, ethical fitness, professional and academic ability, character, reputation, physical health, mental stability, experience, and judicial temperament" when determining candidates to the Supreme Court of the state.[2]
Removal of justices
Salaries
The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court earns $144,029 annually, while associate justices earn $137,171, as of January 2010.[3][4]
Notable decisions
History of the court
The Supreme Court is based in Columbia, South Carolina. Up until 1971, the court was based in the State House, but in that year, the court moved to the old Columbia Post Office. The building was renovated in 1991.[5]
Notable firsts
See also
- News: SC Supreme Court to hear FOIA case, January 25, 2012
- News: South Carolina Supreme Court rules illegal gaming machines to be destroyed, December 21, 2011
External links
References
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|---|---|---|---|
| Current |
Jean Hoefer Toal • Costa Pleicones • Donald Beatty • John Kittredge • Kaye Hearn • | ||
| Former | John Waller • Charles Albert Woods • Ernest A. Finney, Jr. • | ||
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