United States District Court for the District of South Carolina

4th Circuit Columbia, South Carolina

About This Court

The District of South Carolina is a federal trial court within the Fourth Circuit, holding jurisdiction over all federal civil and criminal matters arising within the state of South Carolina. The court hears cases involving federal statutes, constitutional questions, disputes between citizens of different states meeting the amount-in-controversy threshold, and matters involving the United States government as a party.

The district spans the entire state of South Carolina and is organized into multiple divisions to serve the geographic breadth of the state. Court sessions are held at several locations across the state, allowing litigants in different regions access to the federal forum without traveling exclusively to the capital.

South Carolina's federal docket reflects the state's diverse economy and population, including cases involving the Port of Charleston, military installations such as Fort Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base, and a significant volume of prisoner civil rights litigation. The court has historically managed a substantial caseload relative to its size.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Divisions

Aiken Division (Aiken), Anderson Division (Anderson), Beaufort Division (Beaufort), Charleston Division (Charleston), Columbia Division (Columbia), Florence Division (Florence), Greenville Division (Greenville), Orangeburg Division (Orangeburg), Rock Hill Division (Rock Hill), Spartanburg Division (Spartanburg)

Caseload

The District of South Carolina carries a notably high volume of prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus filings, which have historically placed it among the busier districts in the Fourth Circuit on a per-judge basis. The court also sees significant matters related to the state's military presence, international trade through the Port of Charleston, and federal regulatory enforcement.

Bar Admission

Attorneys seeking admission to practice before the District of South Carolina must be admitted to the South Carolina Bar or admitted to practice before the highest court of another state, and must comply with the court's local rules governing admission, including completion of the required application and payment of the applicable fee. Attorneys not admitted to the South Carolina Bar may apply for admission pro hac vice in individual cases upon motion.

Clerk's Office

Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Courthouse, 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 765-5816

Active Judges 14

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Joseph Anderson	Ronald Reagan	1986	University of South Carolina School of Law
Jacquelyn Austin	Joseph R. Biden	2024	University of South Carolina School of Law
Timothy Cain	Barack Obama	2011	University of South Carolina School of Law
Donald Coggins	Donald J. Trump	2017	University of South Carolina School of Law
Cameron Currie	William J. Clinton	1994	George Washington University Law School
Joseph Dawson	Donald J. Trump	2020	University of South Carolina School of Law
Richard Gergel	Barack Obama	2010	Duke University School of Law
Robert Harwell	George W. Bush	2004	University of South Carolina School of Law
Bruce Hendricks	Barack Obama	2014	University of South Carolina School of Law
Henry Herlong	George H.W. Bush	1991	University of South Carolina School of Law
Mary Lewis	Barack Obama	2012	University of South Carolina School of Law
Sherri Lydon	Donald J. Trump	2019	University of South Carolina School of Law
David Norton	George H.W. Bush	1990	University of South Carolina School of Law
Terry Wooten	George W. Bush	2001	University of South Carolina School of Law

Local Rules

The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 111

Rule	Title
1.01	Scope
1.02	Suspension or Modification
1.03	Modification and Implementation of Federal Rules
1.04	District Court Web Site
1.05	Format Requirements for Filed Documents
1.06	Duties of the Clerk of Court
3.01	Venue in Civil Cases
4.01	Timely Service of Summons and Complaint
5.01	Filing of Discovery
5.02	Filing With the Clerk
5.03	Filing Documents Under Seal
5.04	Filing Documents by Electronic Means
5.05	Service of Documents by Electronic Means by Unrepresented Persons
5.06	Substitution, Correction, and Removal of Electronically Filed Documents
6.01	Motions to Alter Time
6.02	Protection Requests
7.01	Filing of Motions
7.02	Duty to Consult Before Filing Any Motion
7.03	Motions to Be Promptly Filed
7.04	Supporting Memoranda
7.05	Form and Content of Memoranda
7.06	Responses to Motions
7.07	Replies
7.08	Hearings on Motions
7.09	Frivolous or Delaying Motions
7.10	Draft Orders Submitted by Counsel
12.01	Extensions of Time to Respond to a Pleading
16.00	Exemptions and Stay of Deadlines
16.01	Scheduling Order
16.02	Scheduling Conference and Scheduling Order Content
16.03	Alternative Dispute Resolution Statement and Certification
16.04	Mediation: Definitions
16.05	Relief From Mediation Requirement
16.06	Appointment of Mediator
16.07	The Mediation Conference
16.08	Duties of the Parties, Representatives, and Attorneys at Mediation
16.09	Sanctions for Failure to Attend Mediation Conference
16.10	Authority and Duties of Mediators
16.11	Compensation of the Mediator
16.12	Mediator Certification and Decertification
16.13	Expedited Trial
16.14	Expedited Trial: Request and Conference
16.15	Expedited Trial Conference
17.01	Representation
17.02	Settlement or Dismissal of Actions
17.03	Approval of Counsel Fees and Payment of Judgments
26.01	Interrogatories to Be Answered by Each Party
26.02	Rules for Answering Court Interrogatories
26.03	Rule 26(f) Report
26.04	Pretrial Discovery for Civil Actions Exempted From Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)
26.05	Civil Pretrial Briefs
26.06	Supplementation of Civil Pretrial Briefs and Disclosures
26.07	Trial Exhibits
26.08	Protective Orders and Agreements
26.09	Pretrial Submission of Proposed Jury Instructions
26.12	Disclosure
29.01	Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedures
30.01	Limitations on Depositions
30.02	Objections to Telephone Depositions
30.03	Video Depositions
30.04	Conduct During Depositions
31.01	Limitations on Depositions
32.01	Excerpts From Depositions to Be Offered at Trial
33.01	Limitations on Interrogatories
37.01	Motions to Compel Discovery
37.02	Sanctions
47.01	Jury Selection Plan
47.02	Use of Juror Questionnaires
47.03	Jury Lists
47.04	Examination of Jurors
47.05	Contact With Trial Jurors
47.06	Responsibilities of the United States Marshal
48.01	Number of Jurors
54.01	Assessment of Jury Costs
54.02	Petition for and Interest on Attorney's Fees
54.03	Application for Costs
55.01	Orders and Judgments
62.01	Stay by Bond or Other Security
62.02	Stay Must Ordinarily Be Sought in the First Instance in Trial Court; Motion for Stay in Appellate Court
64.01	Seizure of Person or Property
65.01	Temporary Relief Order
67.01	Deposit of Registry Funds in Interest-Bearing Accounts
71.01	Land Condemnation Proceedings
73.01	Authority of United States Magistrate Judges
73.02	Assignment of Duties to Magistrate Judges
73.03	Special Provisions for Consent for Reference of Civil Cases Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)
83.IV.01	Service and Filing of Notice of Removal
83.IV.02	Contents of Notice of Removal
83.V	Pretrial Brief Requirements
83.VI.01	Opening Statement
83.VI.02	Examination of Witness
83.VI.03	Scope of Redirect
83.VI.04	Closing Argument of Counsel
83.VI.05	Excusing Witnesses
83.VII.01	Copies of Pleadings
83.VII.02	Initial Service of Process
83.VII.03	Reference to Magistrate Judge
83.VII.04	Answer of the Commissioner
83.VII.05	Expediting Cases
83.VII.06	Petitioner's Brief
83.VII.07	Commissioner's Brief
83.VII.08	Service of Briefs
83.VII.09	Objections to Report and Recommendation
83.VII.10	Application for Attorney's Fees
83.VIII.01	Filing of Civil Rights Actions
83.VIII.02	Procedure for State, Federal, and Local Prisoners Seeking to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
83.VIII.03	Filing of Habeas Corpus Actions
83.VIII.04	Successive Habeas Corpus Petitions
83.VIII.05	Federal, State, and Local Prisoners Seeking Relief Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241
83.VIII.06	State and Local Prisoners Seeking Relief Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241
83.VIII.07	Forms on Electronic Media

General Rules 11

Rule	Title
83.II.01	Handling of Exhibits
83.II.02	Court Reporters
83.III.01	Court Personnel
83.III.02	Attorneys
83.III.03	Copies of Public Records
83.III.04	Conduct of Judicial Proceedings
83.III.05	Photographing and Reproducing Court Proceedings
83.IX.01	Referral to Bankruptcy Judges
83.IX.02	Local Civil Rules of Bankruptcy Practice
83.IX.03	Jury Trials by Bankruptcy Judges
83.IX.04	Disciplinary Rules

Attorney Rules 9

Rule	Title
83.I.01	Roll of Attorneys
83.I.02	Eligibility
83.I.03	Procedure for Admission
83.I.04	Representation by Local Counsel Who Must Sign All Pleadings
83.I.05	Appearances by Attorneys Not Admitted in the District
83.I.06	Pleadings, Service, and Attendance by Local Counsel in Cases Where Out-of-State Attorneys Appear
83.I.07	Withdrawal of Appearance
83.I.08	Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement
83.I.09	Student Practice

Other Courts in the 4th Circuit

District of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Eastern District of North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Eastern District of Virginia Alexandria, Virginia Middle District of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Northern District of West Virginia Clarksburg, West Virginia Southern District of West Virginia Charleston, West Virginia Western District of North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Western District of Virginia Roanoke, Virginia