Opinion
09-30-2024
RE: Hurricane Helene and the Computation of Time
ORDER
JOHN W. KITTREDGE C.J.
On September 25, 2024, the Governor of South Carolina issued Executive Order 2024-24 declaring a State of Emergency in preparation for the potential effects of Hurricane Helene. On September 26 and 27, Hurricane Helene caused extensive flooding and wind damage across much of South Carolina.
Numerous county courthouses and other state and local offices were closed on Friday, September 27, 2024, and it is expected that many South Carolina counties may remain closed for several more days. Many thousands of South Carolinians remain without power, and poor road conditions and gasoline shortages make travel difficult. We find these problems adversely affect the ability of many lawyers and litigants to comply with filing and service deadlines in various courts throughout the state.
Accordingly, this Court finds it is necessary to issue this order, pursuant to Rule 611 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules, (SCACR) declaring Friday September 27, Monday September 30, and Tuesday, October 1, 2024, to be statewide filing "holidays" for the purpose of computing time under Rule 263 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules; Rule 6 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure; Rule 35 of the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure; and Rule 3 of the South Carolina Rules of Magistrates Court.
The Supreme Court will evaluate conditions to determine whether the filing holidays declared in this order should be further extended. A copy of this order shall be provided to the Chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees in accordance with Rule 611, SCACR.
John Cannon Few J., George C. James, Jr., D. Garrison Hill, J. Letitia H. Verdin, J.