The Supreme Court of South Carolina
RE: Establishment of Central Civil, Criminal and Traffic Court in Chesterfield County
ORDER
It appearing that the establishment of centralized magistrate courts for the hearing of civil, criminal and traffic cases, both bench and jury trials, can be accomplished within the framework of the unified judicial system as an administrative matter, and
It further appearing that Chesterfield County Council has concurred by Resolution with the proposed centralization of civil, criminal and traffic cases in Chesterfield County, and
It further appearing that, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 22-2-190 (13) (Supp. 2018), Chesterfield County has one jury pool countywide, which is conducive to the implementation of centralized magistrate courts.
Therefore, the judges of the magistrate courts of South Carolina being a part of the unified statewide judicial system and pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution,
IT IS ORDERED that terms of court for civil, criminal and traffic cases, both bench and jury trials, be scheduled in the Centralized Magistrate Court for Chesterfield County. Terms of court shall be scheduled by the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts in Chesterfield County and shall be presided over by magistrates designated by the Chief Summary Court Judge in Chesterfield County.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the terms of the central court shall be held on the days of the week and at the times designated by the Chesterfield County Chief Summary Court Judge.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes of the Magistrate Courts for Chesterfield County shall supervise the Trial Court Administrator for Chesterfield County and other personnel that may be employed for the central court established pursuant to this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Chief Summary Court Judge shall be responsible for an accounting of all fines, fees, penalties, forfeitures and all other monies collected in the Centralized Magistrate Court for civil, criminal and traffic cases for Chesterfield County. All fees, fines, penalties and forfeitures imposed and collected in the central court must be forthwith turned over to the Treasurer of Chesterfield County. On the first Wednesday in each month or within ten days thereafter, the Chief Summary Court Judge shall make to the Treasurer of Chesterfield County a full and accurate statement in writing of all monies collected in the Centralized Magistrate Court for civil, criminal and traffic cases for Chesterfield County during the past month together with the title of each case in which a fine, fee, penalty, or forfeiture has been paid.
The authority conferred on the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts in Chesterfield County by this Order shall become effective December 1, 2019, and continue unless amended or revoked by Order of the Chief Justice.
Donald W. Beatty
Chief Justice of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
September 23, 2019