D.S.C. Local Crim. Rule 58.01

(A) Misdemeanor Cases. The clerk of court shall assign all misdemeanor

cases to the magistrate judge(s) designated for the division in which the

case is brought.

(B) Felony Cases. The clerk of court shall assign pretrial proceedings in

felony cases to the magistrate judge(s) designated for the division in which

the case is brought. Such pretrial proceedings shall include initial

appearance, arraignment and related proceedings, and such other pretrial

proceedings as are referred by the district judge.

(C) Method of Case/Proceeding Assignment. Unless otherwise specified by

order of the chief judge of the district, criminal cases shall be assigned by

division as follows:

(1) Magistrate judge(s) in Columbia shall be assigned cases and

proceedings filed in the Aiken, Columbia, Orangeburg, and Rock

Hill Divisions.

(2) Magistrate judge(s) in Charleston shall be assigned cases and

proceedings filed in the Charleston and Beaufort Divisions.

(3) Magistrate judge(s) in Greenville shall be assigned cases and

proceedings filed in the Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and

Greenwood Divisions.

(4) Magistrate judge(s) in Florence shall be assigned cases and

proceedings filed in the Florence Division.

(5) If there is more than one magistrate judge in a division, the cases

and proceedings covered by (1) – (4) above shall be assigned to

those magistrate judges on a rotational or duty basis.

(6) Recalled or part-time magistrate judge(s) shall be assigned cases

and proceedings regardless of division as determined necessary by

the chief judge of the district to meet the needs of the court.

(D) District-Wide Jurisdiction. Nothing in this rule shall limit the district-wide jurisdiction of a magistrate judge, prohibit a district judge from

assigning a specific matter to a specific magistrate judge, or prohibit the

reassignment of a specific matter between magistrate judges on the

concurrence of the magistrate judges and district judge involved.

(E) General. Nothing in these rules shall preclude the court or a district judge

from reserving any proceeding for conduct by a district judge, rather than a

magistrate judge. The court, moreover, may by order modify the method

of assigning proceedings to a magistrate judge as changing conditions may

warrant.