2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 22 - Magistrates and Constables › Chapter 2 - Selection Of Magistrates And Magistrates' Jury › Section 22-2-190. County jury areas.

The following jury areas for magistrates courts in the various counties of the State are established:
(1) Abbeville County
(a)(1) Abbeville
(2) Calhoun Falls
(3) Lowndesville
(4) Antreville
(5) Due West
(6) Donalds
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-01-13, and on copies filed with the Abbeville County magistrates offices, and available on the Abbeville County website.
(2) Aiken County
(a)(1) North Augusta
(2) Langley
(3) Aiken
(4) New Ellenton
(5) Wagner/Monetta
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-03-13, and on copies filed with the Aiken County magistrates offices, and available on the Aiken County website.
(c) Each magistrate's office must be maintained at a place designated by the Aiken County Legislative Delegation.
(3) Allendale County
One jury area countywide.
(4) Anderson County
One jury area countywide.
(5) Bamberg County
One jury area countywide.
(6) Barnwell County
(a) The boundaries for the magistrates jury areas in Barnwell are defined by the boundaries of the Barnwell school districts.
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-11-13, and on copies filed with the Barnwell County magistrates offices, and available on the Barnwell County website.
(7) Beaufort County
(a)(1) Sheldon
(2) Bluffton
(3) Daufuskie
(4) Hilton Head
(5) Beaufort
(6) St. Helena
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-13-13, and on copies filed with the Beaufort County magistrates offices, and available on the Beaufort County website.
(8) Berkeley County
(a)(1) Goose Creek
(2) Jamestown
(3) St. Stephen
(4) Moncks Corner
(5) Summerville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-15-13, and on copies filed with the Berkeley County magistrates offices, and available on the Berkeley County website.
(9) Calhoun County
One jury area countywide.
(10) Charleston County
(a)(1) Jury Area No. 1: St. Paul's/Edisto
(2) Jury Area No. 2: West Ashley
(3) Jury Area No. 3: Charleston
(4) Jury Area No. 4: North Charleston
(5) Jury Area No. 5: Mount Pleasant
(6) Jury Area No. 6: St. Andrews
(7) Jury Area No. 7: McClellanville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-19-13, and on copies filed with the Charleston County magistrates offices, and available on the Charleston County website.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, magistrates in Charleston County shall reside in the following jury areas:
(1) Three magistrates shall reside in Jury Area No. 1, one of whom shall reside on Edisto Island.
(2) Three magistrates shall reside in Jury Area No. 2, one of whom shall reside on each of the following islands: Johns Island, James Island and Wadmalaw Island.
(3) Two magistrates shall reside in Jury Area No. 3.
(4) Three magistrates shall reside in Jury Area No. 4.
(5) One magistrate shall reside in Jury Area No. 5.
(6) One magistrate shall reside in Jury Area No. 6.
(7) One magistrate shall reside in Jury Area No. 7.
(d) The magistrate system in Charleston County must be so organized in order to provide for centralized magistrates courts for the purpose of facilitating and expediting civil and criminal matters as hereinafter provided:
(1) The centralized magistrates courts have concurrent jurisdiction for civil and criminal matters with the existing magistrates of Charleston County. Plaintiffs in civil matters have the right to commence a case in either a central magistrates court or in a magistrates court within a defined jury area. The defendant in a magisterial civil matter may remove the case either from a central magistrates court to the defined jury area in which the defendant resides or the defendant may remove the case from the defined jury area in which he resides to a central magistrates court. This removal must be by notification to the court of origin and no cause for removal must be shown.
(2) The centralized magistrates courts have jurisdiction over any type or form of civil or criminal matter, including any procedural or substantive matter or preliminary hearing or examination or bond or bail hearing or any other criminal proceeding.
(3) The fees and charges for the central magistrates courts are the same as those prevailing in all magistrates courts whether central or in a defined jury area.
(4) Upon the effective date of this paragraph a central magistrates court must be established in the City of Charleston.
(5) Six months after the effective date of this paragraph a central magistrates court must be established in the City of North Charleston. However, if the central magistrates court in the City of North Charleston is not funded and established as required by this subsubitem, then the central magistrates court in the City of Charleston established pursuant to subsubitem (4) must cease to exist until the time the central magistrates court in the City of North Charleston is so funded and established.
(6) A third central magistrates court must be established at the time and in the location which a majority of the members of the General Assembly residing in Charleston County determines. In addition to those magistrates assigned to the seven jury areas, there must be appointed one magistrate from the county at large without regard to residence in a particular jury area who must serve as the magistrate of the central magistrates court in the City of Charleston. Six months after the effective date of this paragraph a second magistrate must be appointed from the county at large without regard to residence in a particular jury area who must serve as the magistrate of the central magistrates court in the City of North Charleston. A third magistrate also must be appointed at the time as provided in this subsubitem from the county at large without regard to residence in a particular jury area who, when appointed, must serve as the magistrate of the central magistrates court established pursuant to this subsubitem.
(11) Cherokee County
One jury area countywide.
(12) Chester County
(a)(1) Baton Rouge
(2) Chester
(3) Fort Lawn
(4) Great Falls
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-23-13, and on copies filed with the Chester County magistrates offices, and available on the Chester County website.
(13) Chesterfield County
One jury area countywide.
(14) Clarendon County
One jury area countywide.
(15) Colleton County
One jury area countywide.
(16) Darlington County
(a)(1) Society Hill
(2) Darlington
(3) Lamar
(4) Lydia
(5) Hartsville.
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-31-13, and on copies filed with the Darlington County magistrates offices, and available on the Darlington County website.
(17) Dillon County
(a)(1) Hamer
(2) Dillon
(3) Lake View
(4) Latta
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-33-13, and on copies filed with the Dillon County magistrates offices, and available on the Dillon County website.
(18) Dorchester County
(a)(1) St. George
(2) Summerville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-35-13, and on copies filed with the Dorchester County magistrates offices, and available on the Dorchester County website.
(c) Criminal cases and traffic offenses shall be tried in the jury area where the offense was committed, notwithstanding the creation of any uniform court for the trial of certain offenses.
(19) Edgefield County
One jury area countywide.
(20) Fairfield County
One jury area countywide.
(21) Florence County
(a)(1) Florence
(2) Timmonsville
(3) Evergreen
(4) Olanta
(5) Coward
(6) Pamplico
(7) Lake City
(8) Hannah
(9) Johnsonville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-41-13, and on copies filed with the Florence County magistrates offices, and available on the Florence County website.
(22) Georgetown County
(a)(1) Andrews
(2) Georgetown
(3) Pleasant Hill
(4) Pawleys Island
(5) Murrells Inlet
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-43-13, and on copies filed with the Georgetown County magistrates offices, and available on the Georgetown County website.
(23) Greenville County
(a)(1) Tigerville
(2) Greenville
(3) Taylors
(4) Simpsonville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-45-13, and on copies filed with the Greenville County magistrates offices, and available on the Greenville County website.
(24) Greenwood County
One jury area countywide.
(25) Hampton County
(a)(1) North
(2) South
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-49-13, and on copies filed with the Hampton County magistrates offices, and available on the Hampton County website.
(26) Horry County
(a)(1) Aynor
(2) Conway
(3) Myrtle Beach
(4) Little River
(5) Simpson Creek
(6) Bayboro
(7) Green Sea
(8) Floyd
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-51-13, and on copies filed with the Horry County magistrates offices, and available on the Horry County website.
(27) Jasper County
One jury area countywide.
(28) Kershaw County
One jury area countywide.
(29) Lancaster County
One jury area countywide.
(30) Laurens County
One jury area countywide.
(31) Lee County
(a)(1) No. 1-Lucknow
(2) No. 2-Stokes Bridge
(3) No. 3-Cypress
(4) No. 4-Bishopville
(5) No. 5-Ionia
(6) No. 6-Spring Hill
(7) No. 7-Ashwood
(8) No. 8-St. Charles
(9) No. 9-Lynchburg
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-61-13, and on copies filed with the Lee County magistrates offices, and available on the Lee County website.
(32) Lexington County
(a)(1) Irmo/Chapin
(2) Lexington
(3) Cayce/West Columbia
(4) South Congaree
(5) Bateburg/Leesville
(6) Swansea
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-63-13, and on copies filed with the Lexington County magistrates offices, and available on the Lexington County website.
(33) Marion County
(a)(1) Marion
(2) Mullins
(3) Nichols
(4) Legette
(5) Britton's Neck
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-67-13, and on copies filed with the Marion County magistrates offices, and available on the Marion County website.
(34) Marlboro County
(a)(1) Bennettsville
(2) McColl
(3) Clio
(4) Brownsville
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-69-13, and on copies filed with the Marlboro County magistrates offices, and available on the Marlboro County website.
(35) McCormick County
One jury area countywide.
(36) Newberry County
One jury area countywide.
(37) Oconee County
One jury area countywide.
(38) Orangeburg County
(a)(1) West
(2) Central
(3) East
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-75-13, and on copies filed with the Orangeburg County magistrates offices, and available on the Orangeburg County website.
(39) Pickens County
One jury area countywide.
(40) Richland County
(a)(1) Blythewood
(2) Columbia
(3) Dentsville
(4) Dutch Fork
(5) Eastover
(6) Hopkins
(7) Lykesland
(8) Olympia
(9) Pontiac
(10) Upper Township
(11) Waverly
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document M-79-12, and on copies filed with the Richland County Department of Planning and Development Services, and available on the Richland County website.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subitem (a), for the Richland County Magistrates Centralized Court:
One jury area countywide.
(41) Saluda County
One jury area countywide.
(42) Spartanburg County
One jury area countywide.
(43) Sumter County
One jury area countywide.
(44) Union County
(a)(1) Jonesville
(2) Pinckney
(3) Bogansville
(4) Union
(5) Santuc
(6) Cross Keys
(7) Goshen Hill
(8) Fishdam
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-87-13, and on copies filed with the Union County magistrates offices, and available on the Union County website.
(45) Williamsburg County
(a)(1) Kingstree
(2) Hemingway
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document M-89-13, and on copies filed with the Williamsburg County magistrates offices, and available on the Williamsburg County website.
(46) York County
(a)(1) Clover
(2) Fort Mill
(3) Rock Hill
(4) Western York County
(5) York
(b) The lines defining the magistrates jury areas provided in subitem (a) are as shown on the official map on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document M-91-12, and on copies filed with the York County Management Information Systems Department, and available on the York County website.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subitem (a), for the York County Centralized DUI Court:
One jury area countywide.
HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 110, Section 1; 1981 Act No. 151, Section 1; 1982 Act No. 279, Section 1; 1982 Act No. 399, Section 1; 1985 Act No. 170, Section 4; 1985 Act No. 202, Section 1; 1986 Act No. 318, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 6, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 445, Section 1; 1989 Act No. 40, Section 1; 1989 Act No. 64, Section 1; 1991 Act No. 21, Section 1; 1992 Act No. 258, Section 1; 1992 Act No. 302, Sections 8-13; 1992 Act No. 391, Section 1; 1995 Act No. 16, Section 1; 1997 Act No. 61, Section 1; 1998 Act No. 417, Section 1; 1999 Act No. 31, Section 1; 1999 Act No. 126, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 149, Section 1, eff April 26, 2010; 2010 Act No. 179, Section 1, eff May 19, 2010; 2011 Act No. 45, Section 1, eff June 7, 2011; 2012 Act No. 201, Sections 1, 2, eff July 1, 2012; 2014 Act No. 192 (S.657), Section 1, eff June 2, 2014.
Code Commissioner's Note
At the direction of the Code Commissioner, references in this section to the offices of the former State Budget and Control Board, Office of the Governor, or other agencies, were changed to reflect the transfer of them to the Department of Administration or other entities, pursuant to the directive of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, 2014 Act No. 121, Section 5(D)(1).
Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, Section 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
Effect of Amendment
The first 2010 amendment rewrote item (30) relating to Laurens County.
The second 2010 amendment rewrote item (28).
The 2011 amendment rewrote item (2).
The 2012 amendment rewrote items (40) and (46).
2014 Act No. 192, Section 1, rewrote the section, updating the territorial descriptions of the jury areas and providing references to public maps showing the jury areas.