HELP TOPICS
How To Conduct A Case Search
To conduct a search on a civil case, click the first button on the Public Access Main Menu
(Civil Case Database Inquiry).
There are seven search options listed on the Civil Database Inquiry page: Case Number, Party Name, Filing Date,
Event Date, Disposition Date, Tax Map Number, and Master In Equity File Number. All searches use drop-down list boxes wherever possible.
Case Number Search
If you are searching for a civil case by its Case Number you will first
need to select a case type and court location using the drop-down list box provided for this purpose.
- The case type "CP" (representing Common Pleas) together with location "10" (representing
Charleston County) is used to search for Court of Common Pleas civil cases.
- The case type "DR" (representing Domestic Relations) together with location "10" (representing Charleston County)
is used in searching for Family Court cases. It is important to note that certain Family Court cases (such as adoptions and abuse)
are not available through Public Access.
- The case type "SC" together with one of two Magistrates' Small Claims court locations is used to search for
small claims cases.
- The case type "CI", together with one of the several Magistrate's court locations is used
to search for Magistrate's civil cases.
Next, you must enter the year in which the case was filed. Common Pleas civil cases going back to 1988 are available on the database, as are
Family Court cases back to 1992. Magistrates' civil and small claims cases have been available on the system since January 1, 1998.
Finally, enter a case number from 1 to 999999 in the "From" box. If you leave the "To" box blank, the search will attempt to locate only the one specific case
indicated in the "From" box. If you enter another case number in the "To" box, the system will attempt to
locate a sequence of cases ranging from the number entered in "From" through the number entered in "To".
The system will not accept a "To" number that is less than the "From" number. If no records match your
search criteria an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
Name Search
The full or partial party name search feature allows you to search for a civil case by the
name of one of the parties involved in the suit. A drop-down list box is available, and is used to
indicate that you wish to search by the name of the defendant, the name of the plaintiff
or the name of an attorney. You will then need to enter a full or partial name for the party.
Names are retained on the system LAST NAME FIRST, followed by a comma, then the first name, and finally
a middle name or initial (other than the comma after LAST NAME, no other punctuation is used). As an example, if you are looking for cases involving a party named John Q. Public,
the best and quickest search results will be obtained by entering Public, John Q .
If you aren't sure of the exact spelling of a name, you should probably try entering only the first part of the name. For instance, if the name you're looking for is pronounced "Minnick", you should probably enter "Min" and leave the rest of the box blank rather than trying
every possible spelling of the name (Minick, Minnic, Minnick, Minich, etc.) Company names are entered exactly as
they occur, but are sometimes mis-identified in paperwork. Thus, a search for "Brown Electrical Works Inc." might best
be made by entering only "Brown Electric", because the company name may have been recorded as "Brown Electrical",
"Brown Electrical Works", "Brown Electric Incorporated", etc.
Filing Date Search
You may also search for civil cases by Filing Date. Filing Date refers to
the date on which the case was filed with the Court. You may search on civil cases filed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Civil cases filed prior to 1988 are not available
on the Public Access system. In addition to a filing date range, you may also indicate an OPTIONAL filing code.
The filing code is used to indicate the specific type of civil suit suit filed (for example, auto negligence, medical
malpractice, or personal injury).
Event Date Search
This refers to the date on which some event is scheduled to occur in a civil case, or a date on which
an event already occurred. You may search for event dates set for the future, or already held, by
entering any range of event dates. You may narrow down your search by entering an OPTIONAL event code, representing
a specific type of event (such as a hearing, jury trial, motion hearing, or conference) and an OPTIONAL judge code. The
judge code is used to represent the name of the judge who presided, or is scheduled to preside, at the event. You may
use either, or both of these codes to narrow down your search.
Disposition Date Search
This refers to the date on which a civil case was disposed, or "adjudicated". You may search for
cases disposed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Civil cases disposed prior
to 1988 are not available via the Public Access system. You may narrow down your search by entering an OPTIONAL
disposition code in a box reserved for that purpose. Disposition codes refer to the specific manner in which a
case was disposed; for example "case dismissed for lack of prosecution", or "finding for plaintiff".
Tax Map Number Search
Because it is the nature of Lis Pendens suits to always involve property, a search by Tax Map Number
is provided by the system for assistance in locating civil cases involving properties. A tax map number is a unique identification number assigned to a piece of property.
You may, if you wish, enter a single, specific tax map number or a range of
tax map numbers using both the "From" and "To" boxes provided. If you are searching for information on a single, specific
piece of property and you know the tax map number, you may enter the number in the "From" box.
Enter a range if you have only a partial number available, or if you are attempting to locate a piece of
property within a subdivision, or if you are searching for information on a group of properties within
an area.
Master In Equity File Number Search
You may search for civil cases which have been referred to the Master In Equity court
by entering the Master's court file number in the "From" and "To" boxes provided for this purpose.
The Master's file number search is conducted much like the Case ID search, except that case type,
court location, and filing year are not required. ONLY cases referred to the Master's court are
available through this search.
After entering your search criteria, click on the Search button immediately to the right
of the information in order to start your search.
The Case Selection Page
If the system is able to locate one or more civil cases which match the search criteria you entered, a page
containing a list of these cases will be displayed for you. This page contains enough basic information about each
case for you to narrow down your search and locate the case or cases you wish to view in full.
If you click on a Case ID, you will be sent another page containing additional details of a specific
civil case, and buttons which will allow you to view all parties, docketed entries, scheduled events, and properties involved in the suit.
A button is available on the case's Docket Page for the purpose of obtaining a printed case "report".
The public should be aware that Charleston County does not warrant that the information contained
in the Public Access Case Search facility reflects the most current information in the official
files of the Clerk of Court, nor does the County warrant the accuracy of the information
provided by this system.
Please note that due to routine maintenance requirements, the Public Access Case Search facility is not available between
the hours of Midnight and 6:00 A.M. daily.
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Please note that ONLY Lis Pendens may be accessed through this search feature. Simply put, a notice of lis pendens is
a notice filed on public record with the Court for the purpose of warning all persons
that the title to certain property is in litigation, or is about to be entered in litigation.
A Lis Pendens is only active for five days, after which time it "expires", or is transferred
to a Common Pleas case. Information displayed on the Lis Pendens inquiry screen will indicate
the disposition of the suit; that is, whether it has expired or been transferred to Common Pleas.
To conduct a search on Lis Pendens suits, click the second button on the Public Access Main Menu
(Lis Pendens Database Inquiry).
There are six search options listed on the Lis Pendens Database Inquiry page: Case Number, Filing Date, Disposition
Date, Name, Tax Map Number, and Release Date. All searches use drop-down list boxes wherever possible.
Case Number Search
If you are searching for a Lis Pendens by its Case Number you will not
need to enter a case type and court location; the type ("LP" representing Lis Pendens) and location (10, representing
Charleston County) are already displayed for you. You must enter the year in which the case was filed
(Lis Pendens suits going back to 1988 are available on the database), and a case number from 1 to 999999
in the "From" box. If you leave the "To" box blank, the search will attempt to locate only the one specific case
indicated in the "From" box. If you enter another case number in the "To" box, the system will attempt to
locate a sequence of cases ranging from the number entered in "From" through the number entered in "To".
The system will not accept a "To" number that is less than the "From" number. If no records match your
search criteria an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
Filing Date Search
You may also search for Lis Pendens by Filing Date. Filing Date refers to
the date on which the Lis Pendens was filed with the Clerk of Court. You may search on Lis Pendens suits
filed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Lis Pendens suits filed prior to 1988 are not available
on the Public Access system. In addition to a filing date range, you may also indicate an OPTIONAL filing code.
The filing code refers to the specific type of Lis Pendens suit filed. There are only two possible codes
for Lis Pendens: code 4050 is a regular Lis Pendens matter, and code 4055 represents Lis Pendens matters in which
the filing fee was waived.
Disposition Date Search
This refers to the date on which a Lis Pendens was transferred, expired, or otherwise closed (ended).
You may search for cases disposed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Lis Pendens suits disposed prior
to 1988 are not available via the Public Access system.
Name Search
The full or partial party name search feature allows you to search for a Lis Pendens by the
name of one of the parties involved in the suit. A drop-down list box is available, and is used to
indicate that you wish to search by the name of the defendant, the name of the plaintiff
or the name of an attorney. You will then need to enter a full or partial name for the party.
Names are retained on the system LAST NAME FIRST, followed by a comma, then the first name, and finally
a middle name or initial (other than the comma after LAST NAME, no other punctuation is used). As an example, if you are looking for cases involving a party named John Q. Public,
the best and quickest search results will be obtained by entering Public, John Q .
If you aren't sure of the exact spelling of a name, you should probably try entering only the first part of the name. For instance, if the name you're looking for is pronounced "Minnick", you should probably enter "Min" and leave the rest of the box blank rather than trying
every possible spelling of the name (Minick, Minnic, Minnick, Minich, etc.) Company names are entered exactly as
they occur, but are sometimes mis-identified in paperwork. Thus, a search for "Brown Electrical Works Inc." might best
be made by entering only "Brown Electric", because the company name may have been recorded as "Brown Electrical",
"Brown Electrical Works", "Brown Electric Incorporated", etc.
Tax Map Number Search
Because it is the nature of Lis Pendens to always involve property, a search by Tax Map Number
is also provided by the system. A tax map number is a unique identification number assigned to a piece of property.
You may, if you wish, enter a single, specific tax map number or a range of
tax map numbers using both the "From" and "To" boxes provided. If you are searching for information on a single, specific
piece of property and you know the tax map number, you may simply enter the number in the "From" box.
Enter a range if you have only a partial number available, or if you are attempting to locate a piece of
property within a subdivision, or if you are searching for information on a group of properties within
an area.
Release Date Search
You may search for Lis Pendens by the date in which the properties involved were released from the suit.
"Release date" refers to a date on which a piece of property involved in litigation was "released", or
no longer involved in the litigation. In any given Lis Pendens, individual properties may be released
at different times and for different reasons, while others may continue to be disputed. The release date
search allows you to look for released properties only, regardless of the status of any case in its entirety.
After entering your search criteria, click on the Search button immediately to the right
of the information in order to start your search.
The Case Selection Page
If the system is able to locate one or more Lis Pendens which match the search criteria you entered, a page
containing a list of these cases will be displayed for you. This page contains enough basic information about each
suit for you to narrow down your search and locate the case or cases you wish to view in full. Simply click on the
Case ID and you will be sent another page containing all the details of a specific
Lis Pendens, including all parties and properties involved in the suit.
The public should be aware that Charleston County does not warrant that the information contained
in the Public Access Case Search facility reflects the most current information in the official
files of the Clerk of Court, nor does the County warrant the accuracy of the information
provided by this system.
Please note that due to routine maintenance requirements, the Public Access Case Search facility is not available between
the hours of Midnight and 6:00 A.M. daily.
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Please note that ONLY judgments filed and indexed with the Court of Common Pleas in Charleston County can be accessed through this search feature.
When a judgment is rendered in a civil case, either in the Court of Common Pleas or in another court such as Small Claims, the
judgment must be filed with the court in order to obtain execution of the judgment.
There are two types of judgments indexed on the Civil System. Judgments rendered in the Court of
Common Pleas in Charleston County are indexed under their original case ID and will have "CP" numbers. Cases heard in
other courts, such as Small Claims, or in other counties, but which have judgments filed in the Court of Common Pleas in
Charleston County, are indexed under a "JG" case id.
To conduct a search on the judgments index, click the third button on the Public Access Main Menu
(Judgments Database Inquiry).
There are four search options listed on the Judgments Database Inquiry page: Case Number, Name, Filing Date, and Satisfaction
Date. All searches use drop-down list boxes wherever possible.
Case Number Search
If you are searching for a judgment by its Case Number you must
first enter a case type and court location; the type may be "JG" or "CP".
There are two types of judgments indexed on the Civil System. Judgments rendered in the Court of
Common Pleas in Charleston County are indexed under their original case ID and will have "CP" numbers. Cases heard in
other courts, such as Small Claims, or in other counties, but which have judgments filed in the Court of Common Pleas in
Charleston County, are indexed under a "JG" case id. Both will have the court location 10.
Next, enter the year in which the judgment was filed with the court. Judgments are indexed as far back
as 1988. Then, enter a case number from 1 to 999999
in the "From" box. If you leave the "To" box blank, the search will attempt to locate only the one specific case
indicated in the "From" box. If you enter another case number in the "To" box, the system will attempt to
locate a sequence of cases ranging from the number entered in "From" through the number entered in "To".
The system will not accept a "To" number that is less than the "From" number. If no records match your
search criteria an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
Name Search
The full or partial party name search feature allows you to search for a judgment by the
name of one of the parties involved. A drop-down list box is available, and is used to
indicate that you wish to search by the name of the judgment debtor (that is, the person in the judgment who owes something to another
party), or the name of the person to whom the judgment was awarded (sometimes known as the "judgment payee"). You will then need to enter a full or partial name for the party.
Names are retained on the system LAST NAME FIRST, followed by a comma, then the first name, and finally
a middle name or initial (other than the comma after LAST NAME, no other punctuation is used). As an example, if you are looking for cases involving a party named John Q. Public,
the best and quickest search results will be obtained by entering Public, John Q .
If you aren't sure of the exact spelling of a name, you should probably try entering only the first part of the name. For instance, if the name you're looking for is pronounced "Minnick", you should probably enter "Min" and leave the rest of the box blank rather than trying
every possible spelling of the name (Minick, Minnic, Minnick, Minich, etc.) Company names are entered exactly as
they occur, but are sometimes mis-identified in paperwork. Thus, a search for "Brown Electrical Works Inc." might best
be made by entering only "Brown Electric", because the company name may have been recorded as "Brown Electrical",
"Brown Electrical Works", "Brown Electric Incorporated", etc.
Filing Date Search
You may also search for a Judgment by Filing Date. Filing Date refers to
the date on which the judgment was filed with the Clerk of Court, NOT the original filing date of the
case. You may search on judgments filed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Judgments filed prior to 1988 are not available
on the Public Access system.
Satisfaction Date Search
This refers to the date on which a judgment was satisfied. That is, the date on which the
particulars of the judgment were actually and fully complied with. You may search for judgments satisfied
from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. When a judgment contains no satisfaction date, it is a judgment that
has not been completely satisfied. Judgments which are not satisfied after a period of ten years are considered as
having expired. You may also indicate an OPTIONAL satisfaction code to narrow down your
search. The satisfaction code is used to represent the manner in which a judgment was satisfied or otherwise "disposed". For example, a
satisfaction code may indicate "judgment vacated", "satisfied", or "judgment rescinded".
After entering your search criteria, click on the Search button immediately to the right
of the information in order to start your search.
The Case Selection Page
If the system is able to locate one or more judgment which matches the search criteria you entered, a page
containing a list of these judgments will be displayed for you. This page contains enough basic information about each
judgment for you to narrow down your search and locate the particular judgment or judgments you wish to view in full. Oftentimes,
a single case ID will have two or more judgments associated with it. This means that in the single case, multiple defendants and/or plaintiffs
have had a judgment rendered for or against them. Although tracked under a single case ID, each judgment is handled on an individual basis.
Case ID and you will be sent another page containing all the details of a specific
judgment, including all involved parties and a history of actions taken.
The public should be aware that Charleston County does not warrant that the information contained
in the Public Access Case Search facility reflects the most current information in the official
files of the Clerk of Court, nor does the County warrant the accuracy of the information
provided by this system.
Please note that due to routine maintenance requirements, the Public Access Case Search facility is not available between
the hours of Midnight and 6:00 A.M. daily.
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To conduct a search on a criminal or traffic case, click the fourth button on the Public Access Main Menu
(Criminal Case Database Inquiry).
There are eight search options listed on the Criminal Database Inquiry page: Case Number, Party Name, Arrest Date,
Warrant Filed Date, Indictment Date, Event Date, Disposition Date, and Ticket or Warrant Number.
All searches use drop-down list boxes wherever possible.
It is important to note that most criminal cases start out with SU83 case IDs (SU83 is the court code representing Bond Hearing Court), are transferred to Open Warrants ("OW") cases and are later transferred up to a General Sessions case ID.
Thus, a name search that lists an SU83, OW10 and GS10 case for a single individual, has probably located a single case
that has gone through two transfers.
Case Number Search
If you are searching for a criminal or traffic case by its Case Number you will first
need to select a case type and court location using the drop-down list box provided for this purpose.
- The case type "GS" (representing General Sessions) together with location "10" (representing
Charleston County) is used to search for Court of General Sessions cases.
- The case type "OW" (representing Open Warrants) together with location "10" (representing Charleston County)
is used in searching for General Sessions Open Warrants cases.
- The case type and court location SU83 represents cases in Bond Hearing Court.
- All other SU type cases, regardless of location, are Magistrate's criminal or traffic cases.
- The case type "JU" represents Juvenile criminal matters. These cases are secured and may not be viewed
through the Public Access System.
Next, you must enter the year in which the case was filed. General Sessions, Open Warrants and may Magistrate's criminal and traffic
cases going back to 1991 are available on the database.
Finally, enter a case number from 1 to 999999 in the "From" box. If you leave the "To" box blank, the search will attempt to locate only the one specific case
indicated in the "From" box. If you enter another case number in the "To" box, the system will attempt to
locate a sequence of cases ranging from the number entered in "From" through the number entered in "To".
The system will not accept a "To" number that is less than the "From" number. If no records match your
search criteria an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
Name Search
The full or partial party name search feature allows you to search for a criminal or traffic case by the
name or alias name of the defendant. The Charleston County Courts do not record cases against multiple defendants
in a case; each defendant is assigned his/her own case ID. However, multiple counts are often filed against a defenant
under a single case ID. A drop-down list box is available, and is used to
indicate that you wish to search by the name of the defendant, the defendant's attorney, or the name of
a bondsman or bonding company or arresting officer. You may not conduct a search by the name of a victim or witness, as this
information is secured from public access inquiry. When you search by the defendant's name, all records
are inspected for matching aliases as well. There is no seperate search for an alias.
Next, you will need to enter a full or partial name for the party.
Names are retained on the system LAST NAME FIRST, followed by a comma, then the first name, and finally
a middle name or initial (other than the comma after LAST NAME, no other punctuation is used). As an example, if you are looking for cases involving a party named John Q. Public,
the best and quickest search results will be obtained by entering Public, John Q .
If you aren't sure of the exact spelling of a name, you should probably try entering only the first part of the name. For instance, if the name you're looking for is pronounced "Minnick", you should probably enter "Min" and leave the rest of the box blank rather than trying
every possible spelling of the name (Minick, Minnic, Minnick, Minich, etc.)
Arrest Date Search
You may search for criminal or traffic cases by the defendant's date of arrest. (In traffic cases, this date
usually to the date on which the violation occurred.) You may search on criminal or traffic cases filed from January 1, 1991 up to the present day.
Criminal case defendants arrested prior to 1991 are not available
on the Public Access system.
In addition to an arrest date range, you may also indicate an OPTIONAL arresting agency code.
Arresting agency codes are used to indicate a specific law enforcement agency empowered to arrest offenders
within Charleston County. Such agencies may include the County Sheriff, any municipal police force in the county, a bonding agency,
or SC State department of Probation and Parole, no name a few examples.
Warrant Filing Date Search
You may also search for criminal or traffic cases by Warrant Filed Date. In Criminal cases, this date
search refers to the date on which a warrant was filed against the defendant in the case; in traffic situations it refers to
the date the ticket was issued. You may search on criminal or traffic cases filed from January 1, 1991 up to the present day.
Criminal cases filed prior to 1991 are not available
on the Public Access system.
In addition to a warrant date range, you may also indicate an OPTIONAL report group code.
Report Group codes are used to indicate a specific type of crime or offense for which the defendant
has been charged (for example, arson, forgery, 2nd degree burglary, etc.).
Indictment Date Search
You may search for criminal case by Indictment Filed Date. Please note that this date
is only present in cases involving a direct indictment of a defendant by the Grand Jury. In the majority of
cases this date will not be present, but if you are restricting your search to cases in which there
was a direct indictment, this search feature will assist you by bypassing all other criminal cases.
The date refers to the date on which the indictment was formally filed.
In addition to an indictment date range, you may also indicate an OPTIONAL judge code.
This codes is used to represent the judge to whom the case has been assigned.
Event Date Search
This refers to the date on which some event is scheduled to occur in a criminal or traffic case, or a date on which
an event already occurred. You may search for event dates set for the future, or already held, by
entering any range of event dates. You may narrow down your search by indicating a specific (OPTIONAL) event code, or
judge code. An event code refers to a specific type of occurance in a case, such as Bench Trial, Jury Trial, Hearing, etc.
The judge codes represent the name of the judge who presided over, or will preside over, the event. Either or both
of these fields may be used to focus your search.
Disposition Date Search
This refers to the date on which a criminal or traffic case was disposed, or "adjudicated". You may search for
cases disposed from January 1, 1988 up to the present day. Criminal cases disposed prior
to 1988 are not available via the Public Access system. You may also OPTIONALLY indicate a disposition code in the
box reserved for that purpose. Disposition Codes represent the specific manner in which a case was disposed; for example,
"Not Guilty", "Case Transfered to another Court", "Dismissed for Lack of Prosecution", or
"Defendant Pled to Another Charge".
Ticket or Warrant Number Search
All Criminal or traffic cases in Charleston County except those filed as a result of a direct indictment
will have an associated warrant or ticket number. In situations where the citation (ticket) number or warrant number is known, but the
case ID is not, this search can be used to locate the case. The search is conducted by entering the ticket or warrant numbers
being inspected in the "From" and "To" boxes provided for this purpose. If you already know the exact ticket or warrant number, and only
wish to view a single case, you may leave the "To" box blank.
After entering your search criteria, click on the Search button immediately to the right
of the information in order to start your search.
The Case Selection Page
If the system is able to locate one or more criminal or traffic cases which match the search criteria you entered, a page
containing a list of these cases will be displayed for you. This page contains enough basic information about each
case for you to narrow down your search and locate the case or cases you wish to view in full. Be careful not to
assume the presence of more cases than actually exist; most criminal cases start out with SU83 (Bond Hearing Court) case IDs,
are transferred to Open Warrants ("OW") cases and are later transferred up to a General Sessions case ID.
Thus, a name search that lists an SU83, OW10 and GS10 case for a single individual, has probably located a single case
that has gone through two transfers. In addition, most searches result in the individual display of each
count in a multiple-count case. It may at first appear that five cases have been located involving a single
defendant, when in reality there is only one case involving five counts. The count number is displayed as part of
the case ID, and is positioned at the far right of the ID.
To view more information about a case, simply click on the Case ID and you will be sent another page containing additional details of a specific
criminal or traffic case. On this page, you will see buttons that will allow you to view all parties, docketed entries, and scheduled events in
the case. A printed case "report" may be obtained by clicking a button on the case Docket Page.
The public should be aware that Charleston County does not warrant that the information contained
in the Public Access Case Search facility reflects the most current information in the official
files of the Clerk of Court, nor does the County warrant the accuracy of the information
provided by this system.
Please note that due to routine maintenance requirements, the Public Access Case Search facility is not available between
the hours of Midnight and 6:00 A.M. daily.
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To request a civil case report, first click the Report options button on the Main Menu. You will be sent a page
called the "Reports Menu". You may request a civil or criminal case report, or a jury list from this page.
If you wish to request a civil case report, you must know the complete case ID of the case for which you
want a report. If you don't know the case ID, you should obtain it through one of the various civil case search
methods provided through the Public Access System. If you are using one of the database search functions, you may request
a case report from the Docket Page associated with the case, once you have located it, without exiting and returning
to the Reports Menu.
To specify a civil Case Number you will first
need to select a case type and court location using the drop-down list box provided for this purpose.
- The case type "CP" (representing Common Pleas) together with location "10" (representing
Charleston County) is used to represent Court of Common Pleas civil cases.
- The case type "DR" (representing Domestic Relations) together with location "10" (representing Charleston County)
is used to identify Family Court cases. It is important to note that certain Family Court cases (such as adoptions and abuse)
are not available through Public Access.
- The case type "SC" together with one of two Magistrates' Small Claims court locations is used to request
small claims cases.
- The case type "CI", together with one of the several Magistrate's court locations is used
to request Magistrate's civil cases.
Next, you must enter the year in which the case was filed. Common Pleas civil cases going back to 1988 are available on the database, as are
Family Court cases back to 1992. Magistrates' civil and small claims cases have been available on the system since January 1, 1998.
Finally, enter a case number from 1 to 999999 in the "Case Number" box and click the "Submit" button. If a case cannot be located that
matches your request criteria, an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
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To request a criminal case report, first click the Report options button on the Main Menu. You will be sent a page
called the "Reports Menu". From this page you may request a criminal or civil case report, or a jury list.
If you wish to request a criminal case report, you must know the complete case ID of the case for which you
want a report. If you don't know the case ID, you should obtain it through one of the various criminal case search
methods provided through the Public Access System. If you are using one of the database search functions, you may request
a case report from the Docket Page associated with the case, once you have located it, without exiting and returning
to the Reports Menu.
If you are requesting a case report for a criminal or traffic case you must enter a criminal Case Number.
First, select a case type and court location using the drop-down list box provided for this purpose.
- The case type "GS" (representing General Sessions) together with location "10" (representing
Charleston County) is used to request Court of General Sessions cases.
- The case type "OW" (representing Open Warrants) together with location "10" (representing Charleston County)
is used to represent General Sessions Open Warrants cases.
- SU83 represents cases in Bond Hearing Court.
- All other "SU" type cases are Magistrate's criminal or traffic cases.
- The case type "JU" represents Juvenile criminal matters. These cases are secured and unavailable
through the Public Access System.
Next, you must enter the year in which the case was filed. General Sessions, Open Warrants and many Magistrate's criminal and traffic
cases going back to 1991 are available on the database.
Finally, enter a case number from 1 to 999999 in the "Case Number" box, and click the "Submit" button. If a case matching your
request criteria cannot be located on the database, an appropriate message will be delivered to you.
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To request a jury list, first click the Report options button on the Main Menu. You will be sent a page
called the "Reports Menu". You may request a jury list, or a civil or criminal case report from this page.
First, enter the court for which you wish to obtain a jury list. A drop-down box is presented for this purpose,
and it contains a list of courts for which you may request a jury report. You may select a jury list
for the Court of Common Pleas, Court of General Sessions and any one of the Magistrate's Courts. Jury lists
are not available for Grand Juries.
Next, enter the date on which a jury term is scheduled to begin. Jurors are generally
selected for terms of court from between four and six weeks in advance, and terms generally begin
on Mondays. Jury terms are never scheduled for Mondays which are holidays, so you should consult a calendar
prior to requesting a jury list if you are not completely certain of the courts' jury term start dates.
Finally, click on the "Submit" button. If you have attempted to run a report for an invalid (unscheduled)
jury term date, an appropriate message will be sent to you notifying you of the error.
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"A"
Affidavit
A written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made voluntary, and
confirmed by oath or affirmation of the party making it.
Answer
The paper in which the defendant answers the claims of the plaintiff.
Argument
The presentation of the review of the evidence and summation
by the attorneys at the end of the case, after all of the evidence
is in and both parties have rested.
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"B"
Bailiff
The bailiff is an officer of the court who waits upon the court
and the jury, and maintains order.
Bond Hearing
A hearing at which a Magistrate (or Judge) notifies defendants of the charges
pending against them, advises them of their legal rights and sets bail. All law
enforcement agencies within Charleston County use this court.
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"C"
Civil Case
A lawsuit is called a "civil case" when it is between persons in
their private capacities or relations, or when the government,
whether federal, state, or local, or some department thereof, sues
an individual under the law, as distinguished from prosecuting a
criminal charge. It results generally in a verdict for the plaintiff or
for the defendant and, in many cases, involves the giving or denying
of damages.
Claim and Delivery
A Magistrate's civil case or the paperwork used to initiate such a case. This type
of suit (called a "claim") is filed when a person feels that his property is being
unlawfully held by another party. Such a case must be filed in the jurisdiction where the
party holding the property is located.
Clerk
The clerk sits at the desk in front of the judge, is an officer of
the court and keeps a record of papers filed. He has custody of
the pleadings and records of the trial of the case, orders made by
the court during the trial and the verdict at the end of the trial.
He also administers the oath to jurors and all witnesses before they testify.
Clerk of Court
A county-elected official who heads the office of the Clerk of Court. The Clerk of Court
provides administrative support for the Courts of Common Pleas, General Sessions, and Family Court.
Common Pleas Case
A case filed and adjudicated in the Court of Common Pleas. A Civil case that is not
applicable in Family Court, probably involving an amount or property value of $5000 or more.
Common Pleas, Court Of
The Court of Common Pleas is the court of general jurisdiction over civil cases in Charleston County,
excepting those cases in which the amount or value of property in dispute is less than $7,500.
The Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Sessions are, respectively,
the civil and criminal branches of the Circuit Court of South Carolina. Charleston and Berkeley Counties
form the 9th Judicial Circuit of the state's 16 circuits.
Complaint
The paper in which the person who brings the lawsuit sets forth his claims against the defendant.
Court Reporter
The court reporter takes down in shorthand or on a machine
everything that transpires, which constitutes the stenographic
record of the case. The notes so made are subject to transcription
later, should occasion, such as appeal, require a transcript. The court reporter
marks all exhibits when they are received in evidence.
Cross-Examination
The questions which a lawyer puts to the opposing party and his/her witnesses, as
opposed to simple "examination" or "direct examination".
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"D"
Defendant
In a civil case, the defendant is the person against whom the
lawsuit is brought.
In a criminal case, the defendant is the person charged with an offense.
Deposition
Testimony which is written out in question and answer form just
as it would have been given in court is called a "deposition" and
may be read at the trial. This is ordinarily done because of illness or absence of a party
who would otherwise give oral testimony in court.
Directed Verdict
A verdict handed down directly by a judge in a jury trial. Directed
verdicts are generally handed down because of a legal issue which makes it unnecessary to submit
the case to the jury.
Distress Warrant
An action filed in a Magistrate's court by a landlord, in order to seize the property
of a tenant. Once the property has been seized it is inventoried and sold at public
auction with the revenues used as payment of rent monies or arrearage.
Docket
1) In many courts, refers to the calendar maintained by the court. Thus, a schedule of jury trials
for a certain period of time might be referred to as the "Jury Trial Docket".
2) The term "docket" may also refer to a case record. Thus, the complete, historical register of actions
which have taken place in a case may be referred to as the "case docket".
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"E"
Examination or Direct Examination
The questions which the lawyer asks his own client or his own
witnesses are often referred to as "examination", "direct examination", or
"examination in chief", as opposed to "cross-examination".
Exhibit(s)
Objects, including pictures, books, letters and documents are
often received in evidence. These are called "exhibits" and are
generally given to the jury to take to the jury room for examination
while deliberating.
Expungement
The processs and paperwork by which the records of a criminal conviction
are destroyed or sealed after a certain length of time. This includes records in files, on computer, or in
any other depositories.
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"F"
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"G"
Garnishment
A statutory proceeding resorted to as a means of satisfying a debt or judgment action
by reaching credits, monies (including wages), or property of the debtor or judgment debtor.
General Sessions Case
A case filed and adjudicated in the Court of General Sessions, therefore a Criminal case which
is neither a traffic offense or a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine less than $500 and/or 30 days
incarceration. Generally (though not always) a felony case.
General Sessions, Court Of
The Court of General Sessions is the court of general jurisdiction over criminal cases in Charleston County,
excepting traffic offenses and most misdemeanor cases, which are usually adjudicated in the Magistrates' Courts.
The Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Sessions are, respectively,
the civil and criminal branches of the Circuit Court of South Carolina.
Charleston and Berkeley Counties form the 9th Judicial Circuit of the state's 16 circuits.
Grand Jury
A special jury charged with hearing evidence of felonies to determine whether
there is sufficient evidence to return an indictment against a defendant and cause
him/her to stand trial on the charges.
Guardian; Guardianship
A person lawfully invested with the power and charged with the duty of taking care of another person who,
for defect of age, understanding, or self-control is considered incapable of administering his own affairs.
In South Carolina, guardianship of an adult is generally limited to the care and management of
the person, not his or her estate.
Guardian Ad Litum
A special guardian appointed by the court to prosecute or defend, on behalf of
a minor or incompetent, a suit to which s/he is a party. Such guardian is considered an
officer of the court to represent the interests of another in litigation.
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"H"
Habeus Corpus (writ of)
Literal meaning "you have the body". The name given to a variety of writs, but
generally referring to a writ directed to a person who is detaining another and commanding him to produce the prisoner
or person detained. The purpose of the writ is to test the legality of the detention or
imprisonment, and has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the prisoner.
Hearing
A court proceeding less formal than a trial, at which definite issues of fact
or of law are tried, in which witnesses are heard and parties proceeded against have a
right to be heard. A hearing may be held in a case to make a determination on pre-trial
motions, to set bond, to determine a cause of action, or may even result in a final order and
disposition of the case.
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"I"
Indictment
A formal document issued by a grand jury accusing a defendant of a crime. A criminal
action may be initiated by the issuance of a direct indictment, prior to arrest.
Instructions or "Charge" to Jury
The outline of the rules of law which the jury must follow in their deliberations
in deciding the factual issues submitted to them is
called either the judge's "charge" to the jury, or his "instructions"
to the jury.
Issue
A disputed question of fact is referred to as an "issue". It is
sometimes spoken of as one of the "questions" which the jury must answer
in order to reach a verdict.
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"J"
Judgment, or Judgement
An official and authentic decision of a court of justice upon the respective rights
and claims of the parties to an action or suit. The law's last word in a judicial controversy, it
being the final determination by a court. Under rules practice, the term "judgment" generally
includes "decree". The terms "decision" and "Judgment" are commonly used interchangeably. Both spellings
are technically correct.
Jury Panel
The whole number of prospective jurors from which the trial jury is
chosen.
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"K"
Known Heirs
In matters of probate, held to mean those persons who are known, and whose right to
inherit is dependent on the non-existence of other persons nearer or as near in ancestry
to the decedent.
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"L"
Lis Pendens
A pending suit. Jurisdiction, power, or control which courts acquire over
property in a suit pending action, and until final judgment. A notice of lis pendens is a notice
filed on public records for the purpose of warning all persons that the title to certain property is in litigation, and that they are in danger
of being bound by an adverse judgment.
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"M"
Motion
An application made to a court or judge for the purpose of obtaining a rule or order directing some act
to be done. Motions are usually made within a framework of an existing action or proceeding and require
notice to all parties, but some types of motions may be made without notice.
Motion Hearing
A special type of hearing, held for the sole purpose of ruling on various motions made
in a case. A Motion Docket is generally a list or calendar of cases scheduled to
come before the court for rulings on motions.
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"N"
Nolle Prosequi
A formal entry upon the record by a prosecuting officer by which s/he
declares that s/he will not prosecute the case further. There may be many reasons
for a decision to "nolle prosequi" a case. Nolle Prosequi is often entered as a
type of criminal case disposition.
Nolo Contendre
A plea by the defendant in a criminal prosecution that, without admitting
guilt, subjects him or her to conviction.
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"O"
Objection
A term called out in court to indicate that a lawyer is
objecting to the asking of a question, or to the manner in which a
question is asked.
Objection Overruled
This term means that, in the judge's opinion, the lawyer's
objection is not well taken under the rules of law.
Objection Sustained
This term means that, in the judge's opinion, the lawyer's objection
was well taken under the rules of law.
Opening Statement(s)
Befor introducing evidence for his side of the case, a lawyer
is permitted to tell the jury what the case is about, and what evidence she expects
to bring in to prove his side of the case. Also referred to as "opening remarks".
Order
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"P"
Parties; Party
Persons directly associated with a case. The plaintiff and defendant, who are also
often referred to as the "litigants"; however "parties" may also include the attornies
for the litigants, and other persons whose interests are involved in the outcome of
a case. Jurors, Judges, Clerks, Bailiffs and Court Reporters are not parties in a case.
Plaintiff
In a civil case, the person or persons who initiating a lawsuit.
In a criminal case, the "plaintiff" is automatically
the government, whether Federal, State, or local. The prosecuting attorney is not the plaintiff,
but represents the government, who is the true "plaintiff" in a criminal case.
Pleadings
The parties in a lawsuit must file in court papers stating their claims
against each other. In a civil case, these usually consist of a complaint filed by the plaintiff, an answer filed by
the defendant, and oftentimes a reply filed by the plaintiff.
Preliminary Hearing
The hearing at which a Magistrate (or Judge) determines if there is probable cause
to bind a case over for trial.
Probate
The legal process by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid. Probate also includes
the process of generally administering an estate, including the paying of creditors, distribution of assets,
and determination of legal heirs in situations where a deceased is intestate (died without
a will).
Probate Court
A court having general powers over the probate of wills and administration of estates.
In Charleston County, the Probate Court is also empowered to appoint conservators,
guardians and trustees, issue marriage licenses, and rule on involuntary commitments of
individuals incapacitated by reason of mental illness and/or drug and alcohol problems.
Pro Se
A person who choses to act as his or her own attorney by representing him/herself
before the court.
Prosecutor; Prosecution
One who prosecutes another for a crime in the name of the government. A "prosecutor" takes charge of the
case an performs the function of trial lawyer for the people. An elected official who prosecutes criminal
cases sometimes bears the title of "district attorney". In South Carolina, such an official is
called the Solicitor.
PTI
Pre-Trial Intervention. A diversionary program designed for first-time offenders of non-
violent crimes. The program requires participants to make restitution to the victim(s), perform
a period of community service and participate in court observations and prison tours. Participants may also be required to comply with othr conditions such as
drug testing. Upon completion of such a program, the defendant is generally eligible to have
his record expunged.
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"Q"
Quash
To overthrow, abate, vacate, or annul. To make void.
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"R"
Record
This refers to the pleadings, the exhibits, and the word-for-word record made
by the court reporter of all proceedings at a trial.
Remand
To send back. The sending back by an appellate court to the court from which
it came, for the purpose of having some further action taken on it there. When used in
reference to a person, it means to send back into custody.
Reply
The paper in which the plaintiff responds to any claims made by the defendant in
his/her answer.
Rest
A legal term which means that a lawyer has concluded the evidence
s/he wants to introduce at that stage of the trial.
Rule to Show Cause
A rule which commands a party to appear and show cause why s/he sould not be
compelled to do the act required, or why the object of the rule should not be enforced.
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"S"
Solicitor
In Charleston County, an elected official who's job it is to prosecute criminal cases.
The office of the Solicitor also sees to the scheduling of criminal cases for trial.
Strike; Striking (testimony)
On some occasions, after a witness has testified, the judge will
order certain evidence stricken from the record and will direct the jury
to disregard it. When this is done, the jury will treat the "stricken" evidence
as though it had never been presented.
Subpoena
The document which is issued for service upon a witness to compel his/her
appearance in court.
Summons
An instrument used to commence a civil action or special proceeding. Writ or process irected to the
sheriff or other proper officer, requiring him to notify the person named that an action has
been commenced against him and that he is required to appear on a day named, and
answer the complaint in such an action.
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"T"
Trial
A judicial examination and determination of issues between parties to action,
whether civil or criminal.
Trial Docket
A list of cases scheduled for trials during a certain term of court.
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"U"
URESA
Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act. A federal act governing cases
wherein one parent lives in one state (e.g., South Carolina) and the other does not
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"V"
Verdict
The findings made by the jury on the issue submitted to them is the "verdict".
Voir Dire
The phrase "Voir Dire" literally means "to speak the truth". In court,
it refers to a process of determining whether a juror can serve fairly and
impartially in a given case by asking the juror various questions. These questions
are designed to let the court learn whether a juror has prior knowledge of the
case, is related to or employed by one of the parties in the case, and whether
the juror has prejudices and opinions which would make it impossible
for him/her to make an impartial decision in the case.
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"W"
Writ
An order issued by a court requiring the performance of a specified act,
or giving authority to have it done.
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"X Y Z"
"Y"
Yea and Nay
Yes and no. Affirmative and negative votes.
Yield
To give up, relinquish, or surrender.
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