South Carolina judiciary asks for $8.9M recurring and $45M one-time to hire judges, modernize case management

Chief Justice Kitridge told the Constitutional Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, that the South Carolina judicial branch is requesting $8,900,000 in recurring state funds and $45,000,000 in nonrecurring funds to address rising caseloads, retain staff and complete a long-delayed case management modernization.

Kitridge said the recurring request includes four “judicial enhancements” — three targeted family court judgeships, a revised pay structure to encourage retired judges to serve, a monthly allowance for chief administrative judges, and an increase in each judge’s office-expense allotment — totaling $4,225,000; additional recurring requests include $1,000,000 for attorney and staff retention, $725,000 for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and $3,000,000 tied to family-court case management. The $45,000,000 nonrecurring request would complete a projected minimum $100,000,000 modernization of the statewide case-management system.

Why it matters: Kitridge framed the request as a response to population growth and expanding court workloads. “Operating the state judicial branch… for less than 1% of the total state budget is worth noting,” he said, noting filings and hearings have grown with South Carolina’s population. He told the committee the court has identified immediate needs in family courts, in interpreter staffing and in technology that, if not addressed, will widen existing backlogs.

Most significant items

- Family court judgeships: The branch asked for three new family court judgeships targeted to the…