South Carolina Legislature


Judiciary Committee
Message from Chairman
Wm. Weston J. Newton
District 120, Beaufort County
As chair of the South Carolina House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the committee’s webpage.  Here you will find more information about the workings of the committee, which is one of the six standing committees in the House that vet legislation.  Its official name in the House Rules is the Committee on the Judiciary (Privileges and Elections).

The official name is important as House Rule 4.3 provides that committees have jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the subjects indicated by the names of the respective committees and the subject matter in parenthesis following the names.  As reflected in the materials on this webpage, many bills in the House are referred to the Judiciary Committee.  The diversity of topics addressed is indicated by the committee’s five subcommittees: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Laws; Constitutional Laws; Criminal Laws; General Laws; and Domestic Relations, Business, and Probate Law.

On behalf of my colleagues, thank you for your interest in the House Judiciary Committee.  Our meetings stream online and are archived on the General Assembly’s website for the public to view.  Your input is always welcome at [email protected] as many good ideas compete for limited legislative time for review.

Sincerely,

Wm. Weston J. Newton
Committee Staff
  • Kate Crater - Chief Counsel
  • James "Jimmy" Hinson - Deputy Chief Counsel
  • Truxtun Umsted - Asst. Legal Counsel
  • Teague McQueen - Exec. Asst.
Contact Information
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Room 512 Blatt Building
Telephone: (803) 734-3120

Scheduled Meetings as of 01/20/2026 12:14pm EST
    Tuesday, January 20
  • 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, & Special Laws Subcommittee on 4756
    REVISIONS:
    Meeting added on 16/01/2026 at 01:40pm
    Scheduled for Live Broadcast on 16/01/2026 at 01:49pm
  • 1:30pm or 30 minutes after adjournment, whichever is later -- Blatt Room 110 -- Judiciary Full Committee Meeting on H.4756 and H.4760
    REVISIONS:
    Meeting added on 16/01/2026 at 09:28am
    Scheduled for Live Broadcast on 16/01/2026 at 10:29am
  • 12:00 pm -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on 38, 3310, 3643, 4669
    REVISIONS:
    Meeting added with agenda in PDF format on 07/01/2026 at 03:39pm
    Scheduled for Live Broadcast on 07/01/2026 at 03:51pm
    Agenda updated on 13/01/2026 at 01:05pm
    Thursday, January 22
  • 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on 336, 4755
    REVISIONS:
    Meeting added with agenda in PDF format on 16/01/2026 at 03:13pm
    Scheduled for Live Broadcast on 19/01/2026 at 01:01pm

Video Archives

MembersSubcommitteesRedistrictingAd Hoc Committee
Ad Hoc Committee to investigate whether the Comptroller General has committed acts in office rising to the level that action should be taken under Article XV of the South Carolina Constitution. This review may include but is not limited to consideration of H.4068.

Information older than two years has been moved to the House Judiciary Committee Archives page.



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