Jack D. Howle, Jr. | Sumter County Judicial Center Phone: 803-774-6137 Fax: 803-436-2423 Email the 3rd Circuit
8:30 - 5:00 | Located 1st Floor |
South Carolina's public defender system is based on the state's 16 judicial circuits. Each judicial circuit has a Circuit Public Defender who has full responsibility for the administration of public defender services in each of the counties within the circuit. Circuit Public Defenders are appointed to the position for four year terms by the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense upon nomination to the position by a Selection Panel consisting of attorneys representing each of the counties within the circuit. Circuit Public Defenders are employees of the State of South Carolina. Funding for each circuit comes from the State of South Carolina and from each of the counties within a circuit. The circuit public defender system replaced a system of non-profit defender corporations with the passage of the South Carolina Indigent Defense Act of 2007.
The Third Judicial Circuit includes, Clarendon, Lee, Sumter & Williamsburg Counties. The Third Circuit Public Defender Office, a strictly administrative office is located in the Administering County of Sumter and can be contacted using the information above. Many aspects of representation throughout the Third Circuit are not uniform and specific information can be obtained for each individual county by clicking on the County links below.
In order to be represented by a Public Defender you must complete an Application for Counsel; this application will allow you to list the appropriate financial information required to determine if you are considered “indigent” by the Federal Government. Application processing and location varies by County so please review the procedures outlined under the County link (listed below) where you were charged to apply.
All public defender offices within the Third Circuit have strict privacy policies and will only speak with Defendants directly. We do understand that at times family members or friends would like to know the current status of a case or charge; however, the Defendants are always kept informed and can pass this information along at their discretion. If available, public information regarding both General Session cases and Magistrate/Summary Court cases can be viewed via the SC Judicial Department’s Case Records search by clicking on this link. http://www.sccourts.org/caseSearch/
3rd Circuit Public Defenders Office Frequently Asked Questions
Clarendon County Public Defender representation is available for individuals charged with crimes in the General Session Court, certain crimes in Magistrate Court and for Juveniles charged with crimes in the Family Court.
To complete an application for Counsel regarding General Session charges please go to the Clerk of Court’s Office located in the Clarendon County Courthouse at 3 West Keitt Street, Manning, SC. Due along with your application is a $40.00 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable. To complete an application for Counsel for Magistrate Court charges please go to the Clarendon County Judicial Center located at 102 South Mill Street, Manning, S.C. Please note minor traffic offenses and county ordinances are not eligible for Public Defender representation at this time. Due along with a completed application is a $40 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable.
To complete an application for Counsel regarding Juvenile charges in Family Court, please go to the Family Court located in the Clarendon County Judicial Center 102 South Mill Street, Manning, SC. This application requires information from the Juveniles Parent or Guardian, as well as a $40.00 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable.
Clarendon Co. Public Defender(s)
Scott Robinson – Asst. Public Defender
3 West Keitt Street
Post Office Box 339
Manning, South Carolina 29102
Phone- 803-433-0188
Fax 803-433-0192
L. King Cutter – Asst. Public Defender
3 West Keitt Street
Post Office Box 339
Manning, South Carolina 29102
Phone- 803-433-0188
Fax 803-433-0192
Lee County Public Defender representation is available for individuals charged in the Magistrate Court with DUI 1st, DUAC and DUS (DUI related) in the General Session Court and for Juveniles charged with crimes in the Family Court.
To complete an application for Counsel in Lee County please go to the Clerk of Court’s Office located in the Lee County Courthouse at Courthouse Square, Bishopville, SC. Due along with your application is a $40.00 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable.
Please note that Juvenile Applications require information from the Juveniles Parent or Guardian as well.
Lee Co. Public Defender(s)
Scott Robinson – Asst. Public Defender
3 West Keitt Street
Post Office Box 339
Manning, South Carolina 29102
Phone- 803-483-0417
Fax 803-433-0192
L. King Cutter – Asst. Public Defender
3 West Keitt Street
Post Office Box 339
Manning, South Carolina 29102
Phone- 803-483-0417
Fax 803-433-0192
E. Thompson Kinney – Asst. Public Defender
3 West Keitt Street
Post Office Box 339
Manning, South Carolina 29102
Phone- 803-483-0417
Fax 803-433-0192
Sumter County Public Defender representation is available for individuals charged with crimes in the General Session Court as well as Juveniles charged with crimes in the Family Court and individuals charged with certain crimes in the. Magistrate court or the City of Sumter Municipal Court. Please note that minor traffic offenses and county ordinance violations are not eligible for public defender representation at this time.
To complete an application for Counsel of Sumter County please go to the Sumter County Public Defender’s Office located in the Sumter County Judicial Center at 215 N. Harvin Street, Rm # 151, Sumter, SC. Due along with all applications is a $40.00 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable.
Please note that Juvenile Applications require information from the Juveniles Parent or Guardian.
Sumter Co. Public Defender(s)
Jason Bridges, Asst. Public Defender
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin St, RM 151
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 436-2424
Allen Jack Barnes, Asst. Public Defender
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin St, RM 151
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 436-2424
Kathryn McGrady, Asst. Public Defender
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin St, RM 151
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 436-2424
Philip Little Jr., Asst. Public Defender
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin St, RM 151
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 436-2424
Calvin K. Hastie, Sr., Mag. Court & Juvenile Asst. Public Defender
Hastie Law Firm
7 East Hampton Avenue
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803)774-7776
Timothy W. Murphy, Chief Public Defender
Kolb & Murphy Law Office
107 North Main Street
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 418-0800
Michael D. Routzong, Asst. Public Defender
Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin St, RM 151
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
(803) 436-2424
Williamsburg County Public Defender representation is available for individuals charged in the Magistrate Court with DUI 1st, DUAC and DUS (DUI related) in the General Session Court and for Juveniles charged with crimes in the Family Court.
To complete an application for Counsel in Williamsburg County please go to the Clerk of Court’s Office located in the Williamsburg County Courthouse at 125 West Main Street, Kingstree, SC. Due along with your application is a $40.00 application fee; this fee is required by state law and is non-refundable.
Please note that Juvenile Applications require information from the Juveniles Parent or Guardian as well.
Williamsburg Public Defender(s)
Doward K. Harvin, Asst. Public Defender
Williamsburg County Public Defender
Williamsburg County Courthouse
125 West Main St. RM#309
Kingstre, South Carolina 29556
(843) 355-9321 EX: 7301
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