South Carolina Supreme Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supreme Court of South Carolina |
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| Established | 1841 |
| Country |  South Carolina |
| Location | Columbia |
| Motto | "NIL ULTRA" |
| Composition method | Election by the General Assembly |
| Authorized by | S.C. Const. art. V, §§ 1-2 |
| Decisions are appealed to | Supreme Court of the United States |
| Judge term length | Ten years, staggered |
| Number of positions | 5 |
| Website | Supreme Court |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Donald W. Beatty |
| Since | February 1, 2017 |
| Lead position ends | 2027 |
| Jurist term ends | 2024 |
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Carolina. It is like the final referee for legal cases in the state. This court makes sure laws are followed correctly. It also checks if laws are fair. The court has a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices. These five people make important decisions together.
How Judges Are Chosen
Judges for the Supreme Court are chosen by the state's legislature. The legislature is a group of elected officials. They serve terms of ten years. A judge can serve more than one term. This means they can be chosen again. However, there is a rule about age. All state judges must retire when they turn 72 years old.
Who Are the Current Justices?
The South Carolina Supreme Court has five main judges. One is called the Chief Justice. The other four are Associate Justices. Currently, Donald W. Beatty is the Chief Justice. The Associate Justices are John W. Kittredge, Kaye Gorenflo Hearn, John Cannon Few, and George C. James. They all work together to hear important cases.
History of the Court
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Supreme Court of South Carolina Building
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Supreme Court of South Carolina Building, December 2009
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1231 Gervais St., Columbia, South Carolina |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1917–1921 |
| Architect | Gill & Wilkins; Andrew V. Kerns |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001220 |
| Added to NRHP | October 18, 1972 |
The Supreme Court of South Carolina has a special building. It is in Columbia, the state capital. The court moved into this building in 1971. Before that, it was a United States Post Office. The building was built between 1917 and 1921. It has a classic, old-style design. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Before 1971, the court met in the South Carolina State House. This is where the state government works. The judges shared a small space there. They did not have their own offices. They met in a common room for court sessions.
Many different Chief Justices have led the court. From 1930 to 2016, there were 17 Chief Justices. Each one helped shape the laws of South Carolina.
