The Supreme Court of South Carolina

O R D E R

WHEREAS only by continuing their legal education can the Judiciary fulfill their obligation to competently serve the State, and

WHEREAS there are many opportunities for all levels of the Judiciary to obtain continuing legal education, and

The judges of the magistrate and municipal courts of South Carolina being a part of the unified statewide judicial system; NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, Article V, South Carolina Constitution,

IT IS ORDERED that every magistrate in this State shall complete, by actual attendance and satisfactory completion of such reasonable testing as may be required by approved educational providers, a minimum of eighteen (18) hours of legal education accredited by the Office of Court Administration during each calendar year. This requirement represents one and a half hours of credit for each full month that a magistrate serves in office. Hours completed by a magistrate in any one year in excess of the minimum requirement of eighteen (18) hours may be carried forward to the next year provided that not more than twelve (12) hours of credit may be carried forward to the next year.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that of the eighteen (18) hours of accredited legal education that each magistrate must complete each year, a minimum of six (6) hours must be devoted to civil issues and a minimum of six (6) hours must be devoted to criminal issues.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that every municipal judge in this State shall complete, by actual attendance and satisfactory completion of such reasonable testing as may be required by approved educational providers, a minimum of twelve (12) hours of legal education accredited by the Office of Court Administration during each calendar year. This requirement represents one hour of credit for each full month that a municipal judge serves in office. Hours completed by a municipal judge in any year in excess of the minimum requirement of twelve (12) hours may be carried forward to the next year provided that not more than six (6) hours of credit may be carried forward to the next year.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Office of Court Administration is authorized to determine the number of hours for which credit will be given for particular courses and to exercise general supervisory authority over the administration of this Order as it applies to magistrates and municipal judges, subject to the approval of the Chief Justice.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that on or before January 10 of each year, each magistrate or municipal judge shall file an affidavit with the Office of Court Administration on a form prescribed by that Office, concerning his or her completion of accredited legal education during the preceding calendar year.

Failure to comply with this order shall subject the party so failing to penalties as for contempt of court.

This order shall be effective January 1, 1995.

May 3, 1994
Columbia, South Carolina