MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) — South Carolina’s top judicial leaders say family courts are overwhelmed, and Berkeley County is one of the hardest-hit. A new Family Court seat is now coming to the county as part of a broader statewide effort to ease delays in custody battles, juvenile hearings, and DSS cases.
Lawmakers approved the addition of Seat 7 in the Ninth Judicial Circuit earlier this year following a request from South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge, who told legislators in February that family courts are “in crisis.”
Judge Ernie Jarrett, the chief administrative judge for Family Court in Berkeley County, said the court was significantly behind in cases when he was assigned to the county 18 months ago…