The Supreme Court of South Carolina
RE: Pilot Program for Enhanced Court Supervision of SCDSS Cases
ORDER
Pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution, the Court adopts the attached designations and procedures for the Pilot Program for the Enhanced Supervision of SCDSS Cases. This Pilot Program will begin on January 1, 2019 in Horry and Greenville Counties under resident judges, the Honorable Ronald R. Norton and the Honorable Rochelle Y. Conits.
Judges Norton and Conits shall designate upon motion of any party or sua sponte, the cases that should receive enhanced supervision. The Pilot Program shall be effective January 1, 2019 through January 1, 2020. The two judges designated for the pilot program shall provide a report to the Supreme Court of South Carolina at the end of the pilot period which evaluates effectiveness of the Program and recommends further action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Donald W. Beatty Donald W. Beatty Chief Justice of South Carolina |
Columbia, South Carolina
December 31, 2018
PROCEDURES FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE ENHANCED SUPERVISION OF SCDSS CASES
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Pilot Program for the Enhanced Supervision of SCDSS Cases is to designate certain types of family court cases on the SCDSS docket to receive supervision of a single judge throughout the entirety of the case once so designated.
2. Scope. Cases concerning intervention of foster parents or grandparents, cases to set aside adoptions or relinquishments, and complex termination of parental rights cases fall within the scope of this pilot program.
3. Designation of Cases. Judges Norton and Conits may upon motion of any party or sua sponte, identify the cases which qualify for this pilot program.
4. Additional Assignment of Docket Time to the Pilot Judges. The Chief Administrative Judges for these circuits shall arrange for additional time to be given to the pilot judges to hear the designated cases if necessary.
5. Effective Date. The Pilot Program shall be effective for all Cases designated by this Order filed on January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020, unless extended by Order of the Supreme Court.