Barnwell County Magistrate Court cases in Barnwell County, Barnwell, SC
Barnwell County Magistrate Court - Barnwell is a county magistrate (summary) court in Barnwell, South Carolina. As part of South Carolina's summary courts, it handles lower-level matters within its local jurisdiction. It conducts bench and jury trials for misdemeanor criminal and traffic offenses; issues arrest and search warrants; sets bonds; and holds preliminary hearings in criminal cases. On the civil side, it has limited monetary jurisdiction set by state law, hearing small claims, landlord-tenant/eviction actions, and other civil complaints for money damages. It does not hear family court matters such as divorce or child custody, which are handled by the Family Court, or major felonies and larger civil cases, which are handled by the Circuit Court.
Barnwell County Magistrate Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Magistrate Court |
| County: | Barnwell |
| Street Address: | 141 Main St. |
| City: | Barnwell |
| Zip Code: | 29812 |
| Phone: | 803-541-1035 |
| Fax: | 803-541-1055 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.sccourts.org/clerks/barnwell/courthouse.cfm |
| Parking: | Parking is available all around the courthouse/county government complex, with the most abundant space in the city parking lot at the corner of Wall and Allen streets. |
| Directions: | The courthouse can be entered from the front at ground level or, when court is in session, by taking the circular wrought iron stairs up to the second level, which allows entry directly into the courtroom. Additionally, the courthouse can be accessed through the county office building on its east side, and through the county administration building at its rear. |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.sccourts.org/forms/searchType.cfm |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Barnwell/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx |
| Jury Service: | https://www.sccourts.org/clerks/barnwell/jurorinfo.cfm |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-mcelveen%E2%80%8E-36a44b12/ |
| Special Access: | Entry can also be gained through the park courtyard, at which point there is an elevator for use by those who cannot climb the stairs. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Barnwell County Magistrate Court
Barnwell County Magistrate Court (Barnwell) handles:
- Case filings: small-claims/civil actions within magistrate jurisdiction; landlord-tenant matters (evictions, rent and possession); claim and delivery (recovery of personal property); issuance of summonses and subpoenas.
- Criminal and traffic: processing of traffic tickets and minor criminal offenses; arrest and search warrants; bond/bail setting; preliminary hearings.
- Protective matters: civil restraining orders in harassment/stalking cases; related warrant and bond proceedings in criminal domestic-violence cases.
- Court hearings: arraignments, bench trials, and jury trials for eligible cases; compliance/enforcement of court orders and judgments.
- Jury services: juror qualification, summons, reporting, excuses/deferrals, and jury selection.
- Public services: payment of fines/fees/tickets; scheduling and continuance requests; access to dockets and records; forms and procedural guidance.
The court's functional role is to provide a local forum for filing, adjudication, and enforcement of magistrate-level civil, criminal, and traffic matters for the public.