Current Status Bill Number:648 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970415 Primary Sponsor:Hutto All Sponsors:Hutto Drafted Document Number:res1380.cbh Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:Family court judges, residency requirements provided for; Courts
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate 19970415 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1410, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES FOR EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN THOSE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS MADE UP OF FIVE COUNTIES, AT LEAST ONE FAMILY COURT JUDGE MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE THREE COUNTIES WITH THE SMALLEST POPULATION IN THE CIRCUIT AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO INCUMBENTS SEEKING REELECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 20-7-1410 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 20-7-1410. The General Assembly shall elect a number of Family Court Judges from each judicial circuit as follows:
First Circuit Two Judges
Second Circuit Two Judges
Third Circuit Three Judges
Fourth Circuit Three Judges
Fifth Circuit Four Judges
Sixth Circuit Two Judges
Seventh Circuit Three Judges
Eighth Circuit Three Judges
Ninth Circuit Five Judges
Tenth Circuit Three Judges
Eleventh Circuit Three Judges
Twelfth Circuit Three Judges
Thirteenth Circuit Five Judges
Fourteenth Circuit Three Judges
Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges
Sixteenth Circuit Two Judges
In the following judicial circuits at least one Family Court Judge must be a resident of each county in the circuit: fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth, twelfth, thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth. In those judicial circuits made up of three or more counties at least one Family Court Judge must be a resident of one of the counties which does not have the largest population in the circuit. In those judicial circuits made up of five counties, at least one family court judge must be a resident of one of the three counties with the smallest population in the circuit, except that this requirement does not apply to incumbent family court judges seeking reelection in those judicial circuits made up of five counties.
No county in the sixth circuit shall have more than one resident Family Court Judge."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.