S.C. E-Filing Attorney Guide: ARG-24-Special Referees Arbitrators and Mediators

ARG-24: Special Referees, Arbitrators, and Mediators

Attorney Reference Guide

2025 © South Carolina Judicial Branch 11/2025 1

Reference Guide Contents:

❖ Special Referees................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 1

o Logging In to E-Filing................................ ................................ ................................ . 2

o Viewing a Case History in E-Filing................................ ................................ ............. 2

❖ Arbitrators and Mediators................................ ................................ ................................ . 4

o Traditionally File or Email Submissions to the Clerk of Court................................ ...... 4

❖ Retired Active Judges................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4

Special Referees

Orders signed and submitted by attorneys acting as special referees may NOT be E-Filed, but should

be submitted by the special referee using a Traditional filing method, such as (1) submitting documents

to the clerk of court directly or mailing the documents to the clerk; or (2) with advance permission of the

clerk of court, via email. Special referees should physically hand-sign orders rather than use an

electronic signature. Nevertheless, special referees will need to access E-Filing to see case records in

cases where they are serving as special referees.

Attorneys who are special referees should continue to E-File in cases

Note where they are counsel for a party.

ARG-24: Special Referees, Arbitrators, and Mediators

Attorney Reference Guide

Logging In to E-Filing

1. To access the E-Filing Portal, visit https://efile.sccourts.org/

2. Log in using your User Name and Password from AIS.

3. Click the Notice checkbox to indicate you have read, understand and will comply with the

redaction rules.

4. Click Log In to open the Filer Interface home page.

Viewing a Case History in E-Filing

Case files are no longer available in the office of the Clerk of Court. All documents must be viewed from the Filer

Interface by following the steps outlined below.

1. From the Home page click Existing Cases.

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ARG-24: Special Referees, Arbitrators, and Mediators

Attorney Reference Guide

2. Enter the Case Number (all 13 characters with no dashes or spaces).

3. Choose the correct County for the filing.

4. Click the History button to view the Filings and attached images.

5. Click "Show/Hide Participants" to view the case parties.

6. Click the blue hyperlinked name of the filing to view a document. The document displays in a

new tab. After viewing, click to close that tab and return to the Filer Interface/Cases screen.

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ARG-24: Special Referees, Arbitrators, and Mediators

Attorney Reference Guide

Arbitrators and Mediators

Arbitrators and Mediators who are not members of the SC Bar will not be able to sign in to the E-Filing

System. Further, Arbitrators and Mediators who are not court-appointed, but who are selected by the

parties, will generally not be associated to their cases in CMS until after filing their Arbitration/Mediation

reports. Therefore, a different method will need to be utilized.

Traditionally File or Email Submissions to the Clerk of Court

Mediators or Arbitrators will need to submit Proof of ADR using a Traditional filing method, such as (1)

submitting documents to the clerk of court directly or mailing the documents to the clerk; or (2) with

advance permission of the clerk of court, via email. If emailing to the clerk, Arbitrators and Mediators

must physically sign the Proof and scan to .pdf. The .pdf version of the report should then be attached

to an e-mail directed to the Clerk of Court for the county to which the case belongs. The Clerk will then

E-File the Proof of ADR.

Retired Active Judges

Retired, active Judges acting in the capacity of an Arbitrator, Mediator, or Special Referee may prefer

to upload and sign documents through the Court Review Interface. For further information on filing as a

Judge via the Court Review Interface, please refer to the Court Reference Guide entitled CRG-07

Judicial Queues, "Add to Queue" instructions beginning on page 12.

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