Terms Used In South Carolina Code 22-5-340

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
A defendant when first brought before a magistrate may demand a removal of the hearing to the next magistrate on the same grounds as in cases within the jurisdiction of the magistrate and shall be granted two days, if requested, within which to prepare a showing for such removal during which time he shall be held by recognizance in bailable cases or committed for custody.