South Carolina’s judicial branch of government is notably distinctive when compared to other state’s judicial institutions. South Carolina’s judicial system has drastically evolved over the past fifty years. The state has made great progress in modernizing the structure of its judicial system and its operating procedures in spite of the state’s reputation of being hesitant to change. I believe that South Carolina’s judicial system is one of the better systems in the country because of the progress the state has made restructuring the system and developing a more professionalized and independent judiciary.
South Carolina’s unified judicial system consists of six courts: the Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate …show more content…
The Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice and four associate justices who are elected to serve ten year terms by the General Assembly. South Carolina is one of only nineteen states with a five member Supreme Court. Seven states copy the federal system and twenty-six states have seven justices. (Hays 250). The justices have jurisdiction over other courts and are responsible for promulgating any rules governing case management and the practice of law (Hays 250). The Court of Appeals consists of on Chief Judge and eight associate judges who are elected to six staggered terms by the General Assembly. This court hears the majority of the appeals from the Circuit Courts and Family Courts. The Circuit Court is the state's court of general jurisdiction. It consists of a civil court, the Court of Common Pleas, and a criminal court, the Court of General Sessions. South Carolina is divided into sixteen judicial circuits. The forty-nine Circuit Court judges are elected by the General Assembly to staggered terms of six …show more content…
The S.C. Bar's Judicial Qualifications Committee evaluates all candidates for selection to the S.C. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit and Family courts and Administrative Law Judges based on interviews with lawyers (South Carolina Bar). Lawyers who have dealt with the judges are interviewed about each candidate's judicial temperament, character, knowledge of the law and legal skills, etc (South Carolina Bar). These reports are taken into consideration by the General Assembly when re-electing judges (South Carolina Bar). Attorney evaluations motivate judges to rule justly and unbiasedly. Another example of South Carolina professionalizing its judicial system is a recent change of requirements for Magistrate Court judges. Today, Magistrate judges must have a four year degree. In 2005, South Carolina changed the requirements for Magistrate Court judges. They now must have a four year degree. Creating a more professionalized judicial branch lessens the potential for biased judgments and creates a fair court
South Carolina’s unified judicial system consists of six courts: the Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate …show more content…
The Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice and four associate justices who are elected to serve ten year terms by the General Assembly. South Carolina is one of only nineteen states with a five member Supreme Court. Seven states copy the federal system and twenty-six states have seven justices. (Hays 250). The justices have jurisdiction over other courts and are responsible for promulgating any rules governing case management and the practice of law (Hays 250). The Court of Appeals consists of on Chief Judge and eight associate judges who are elected to six staggered terms by the General Assembly. This court hears the majority of the appeals from the Circuit Courts and Family Courts. The Circuit Court is the state's court of general jurisdiction. It consists of a civil court, the Court of Common Pleas, and a criminal court, the Court of General Sessions. South Carolina is divided into sixteen judicial circuits. The forty-nine Circuit Court judges are elected by the General Assembly to staggered terms of six …show more content…
The S.C. Bar's Judicial Qualifications Committee evaluates all candidates for selection to the S.C. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit and Family courts and Administrative Law Judges based on interviews with lawyers (South Carolina Bar). Lawyers who have dealt with the judges are interviewed about each candidate's judicial temperament, character, knowledge of the law and legal skills, etc (South Carolina Bar). These reports are taken into consideration by the General Assembly when re-electing judges (South Carolina Bar). Attorney evaluations motivate judges to rule justly and unbiasedly. Another example of South Carolina professionalizing its judicial system is a recent change of requirements for Magistrate Court judges. Today, Magistrate judges must have a four year degree. In 2005, South Carolina changed the requirements for Magistrate Court judges. They now must have a four year degree. Creating a more professionalized judicial branch lessens the potential for biased judgments and creates a fair court