S.C. C.J. Admin. Order No. 2026-04-20-01

The Supreme Court of South Carolina

Re: Local Rules for Richland County Court of Common

Pleas

ORDER

Pursuant to Article V, § 4 of the South Carolina Constitution, the attached local

rules are approved for use in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas. This

order supersedes the prior Order approving the Local Rules for Richland

County dated February 13, 2026.

This order is effective upon signing and remains in effect unless amended or

rescinded by the Chief Justice.

s/John W. Kittredge

John W. Kittredge

April 20, 2026

Columbia, South Carolina

State of South Carolina

The Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit

Daniel Coble

Chief Administrative Judge

Post Office Box 192

1701 Main Street, Room 214

Columbia, SC 29202-0192

Phone: (803) 576-1773

Fax: (803) 576-1744

dcoblej@sccourts.org

In order to assure the efficient management of the Common Pleas jury docket for Richland County,

the Chief Administrative Judge has enacted the following requirements.

CONTINUANCE REQUESTS

Before any continuance request is considered, all parties must be notified and given the opportunity

to object or consent. The continuance must state specific reasons as to the good cause for the

request. The Chief Administrative Judge will decide all continuance requests prior to the start of

the Common Pleas term. Once the term begins, the trial judge has the authority to grant or deny

any continuance requests within their discretion. A case is not continued until there is an

affirmative response from the Court or Clerk’s Office.

ORDERS OF PROTECTION

The Chief Administrative Judge will sign orders of protection. However, the moving party must

put in writing on the proposed order that they attest that none of their cases have any pending

hearing/trial dates. If they do have pending court dates, the pa rty must request a continuance for

these dates and confer with opposing counsel first. Only one order is necessary for protection.

The Clerk does not need an order for each case.

MOTIONS TO COMPEL

In accordance with Rule 11, SCRCP and this Administrative Order, the parties must communicate

orally in a good faith effort to resolve the pending motion to compel. The parties must orally

communicate after the motion has been scheduled and before the hearing of the motion – even if

they have communicated prior to the filing of the motion.

PRIORITY MATTERS

In scheduling motions, priority will be given to emergency matters, discovery motions, settlement

hearings and any matter deemed necessary in accordance with Rule 40(h), SCRCP.

MINOR/DEATH SETTLEMENTS

Settlement hearings will be held in-person as all other motions are. To have a settlement motion

heard, the moving party should file either the petition or a motion to approve settlement with the

Clerk’s Office. The petition or updated petition may be supplemented after the filing. After the

motion/petition is e-filed, the Clerk will schedule the settlement hearing. Settlement hearings will

only be heard virtually in extraordinary circumstances (e.g., guardian/PR live in another state and

cannot travel). After the settlement hearing is scheduled, the moving party shall contact the

presiding judge to inquire about their availability for a virtual hearing during that term of court.

AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDERS

The Court will not entertain amended scheduling order requests without a detailed explanation of

why the amendment is necessary, and a copy of the existing scheduling order. Amended

scheduling orders will be approved if the new order contains the name of the mediator and date of

mediation.

PENDING MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER (59e)

If a party has properly filed a motion to reconsider and they have not received a decision more

than 30 days since the service, the moving party shall reach out to the Chief Administrative Judge

and provide him with the information.

The party must serve the motion in compliance with Rule 59(g), SCRCP, otherwise the motion

will likely be denied by the Chief Administrative Judge.

STATUS CONFERENCES/PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS

If the parties are seeking an informal status conference (Rule 16(e)), SCRCP, please reach out

directly to the Chief Administrative Judge’s office and inquire as to his availability. The Chief

Administrative Judge will attempt to schedule the parties for an in-person or virtual hearing as

soon as practicable. A status conference is not necessary for a first time scheduling order.

ROSTER MEETINGS

Roster meetings will be held the week prior to the trial term of court. The date and location will

be provided in the trial notice.

MEDIATION

Cases that are not in compliance with mediation under Rule 5(f), ADR, will be scheduled for a

Rule to Show Cause hearing. Parties may be excused from the hearing if they provide the Court

with Proof of ADR, a scheduling order with a specific date of when mediation will be completed,

or with a scheduled date for mediation to occur within 60 days of the Rule to Show Cause hearing,

or at the Court’s discretion.

UPDATES TO ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

This Administrative Order will be reviewed, and amended if necessary. The Chief Administrative

Judge shall meet with the RCBA Common Pleas Advisory Group on a regular basis. Failure to

comply with this Order may result in sanctions.

s/Daniel Coble

Chief Administrative Judge

Fifth Judicial Circuit

May 19, 2025 (Updated: March 27, 2026)