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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in South Carolina
South Carolina Supreme Court justices are elected by South Carolina’s legislature to 10-year terms, and the legislature decides whether they serve again.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in South Carolina?
- Highest court
- South Carolina Supreme Court — 5 justices
- How chosen
- Legislature elects
- Voters
- Voters have no direct say
- Term
- 10 years
- To serve again
- Legislature decides
- 2026 ballot
- No South Carolina Supreme Court seats in 2026
How South Carolina chooses its judges
South Carolina Supreme Court justices are elected by South Carolina’s legislature to 10-year terms, and the legislature decides whether they serve again.
- Seats: 5 justices on the South Carolina Supreme Court.
- Term: 10 years.
- To serve again: Legislature decides.
- Age rule: Must retire by the end of the year they turn 74.
- Other courts: Appellate and circuit judges are also elected by the legislature.
The Judicial Merit Selection Commission screens candidates and sends the General Assembly up to three names.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the South Carolina Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. South Carolina voters do not vote on the South Carolina Supreme Court: its justices are elected by the legislature, and the legislature decides whether they serve another term.
Other judges can still be on your ballot. Appellate and circuit judges are also elected by the legislature. Check your sample ballot for every judicial race where you live.
How to research judges on your South Carolina ballot
- Your sample ballot: South Carolina’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in South Carolina — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in South Carolina
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. South Carolina’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
South Carolina’s senators: Darline Graham (Republican) and Tim Scott (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
| Judge | Court | Date | Vote | Graham | Scott |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheria Akins Clarke | District Judge for the District of South Carolina | May 19, 2026 | 52–38 | — | Yea |
District judges for courts in South Carolina and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- District of South Carolina: seat of Timothy M. Cain (senior, Oct 1, 2026) — no nominee yet.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in South Carolina?
South Carolina Supreme Court justices are elected by South Carolina’s legislature to 10-year terms, and the legislature decides whether they serve again. Appellate and circuit judges are also elected by the legislature.
How long is a term on the South Carolina Supreme Court?
10 years. At the end of a term, the legislature decides whether they serve another term. Must retire by the end of the year they turn 74.
Is the South Carolina Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. South Carolina voters do not vote on the South Carolina Supreme Court: its justices are elected by the legislature, and the legislature decides whether they serve another term.
How do I research judges on my South Carolina ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/ lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in South Carolina?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. South Carolina's senators, Darline Graham and Tim Scott, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 1 judge tied to South Carolina by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in South Carolina
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
South Carolina Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.