South Carolina
South Carolina’s highest court is the Supreme Court of South Carolina. The court has four associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is selected according to the same procedures as their peers on the court. (Source: South Carolina Judicial Branch)
Judicial Selection
The legislature appoints justices to a 10-year term on the Supreme Court of South Carolina selected from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. Justices may stand for reappointment by the legislature to additional terms in the same appointment process. To fill an interim vacancy, the legislature votes to appoint a judicial candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. If less than one year remains of the unexpired term the governor may appoint a candidate instead. The appointed justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 72.
State Constitution
South Carolina has had seven state constitutions adopted between 1776 and 1895. As of January 1, 2024, it had 502 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.
South Carolina High Court Hears Challenge to Firing Squads and Electric Chair
States have increasingly turned to antiquated, painful methods of execution in response to shortages of lethal injection drugs.
Mapping State Supreme Court Abortion Rights Decisions
A Conversation About Abortion Rights and the Future of State Constitutions
A retired state supreme court justice, a reproductive rights scholar, and the director of the Brennan Center’s Judiciary Program discuss the role of state courts after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that there is no federal constitutional right to abortion.
2023’s Most Significant State Constitutional Cases
Over a dozen academics, practitioners, and thought leaders weigh in on the most notable state constitutional cases of the year.
In Montana’s Right to Participation, the Seeds of a Better Democracy
Trends to Watch in State Abortion Litigation
Florida Supreme Court Hears Pivotal Abortion Case