Terms Used In South Carolina Code 22-5-710

  • 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.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
Magistrates in counties in which a county court has been established under the provisions of Chapter 9 of Title 14 shall issue warrants and hold preliminary examinations in all criminal cases and take such action therein as is provided by law in criminal cases beyond the jurisdiction of magistrates. In committing or binding over defendants and witnesses such magistrates shall commit and bind over for trial at the next ensuing session of the county court except in those cases over which the county court has no jurisdiction, in which cases the magistrates shall commit or bind over for trial in the court of general sessions. Such magistrates, immediately after committing or binding over a defendant for trial shall lodge with the clerk of the court by which the defendant is to be tried all papers and proceedings connected with the case.