Paul B. Wickensimer
Clerk of Court

Although Circuit Court can hear appeals from courts in the lower jurisdictions, it serves primarily as a trial court for the larger civil cases and felony criminal cases. When a Circuit Court judge is presiding over a civil trial, it is referred to as the Court of Common Pleas. When a Circuit Court judge is presiding over a criminal trial, it is referred to as the Court of General Sessions. Even though the rules and procedures for Common Pleas are different from those used in General Sessions, a Circuit Court judge can hear either Common Pleas cases or General Sessions cases depending upon how he or she is assigned each week.

The Circuit Court is a formal court of record, and operates under the South Carolina Constitution, the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. Ninety-nine percent of the people and businesses having cases in Circuit Court are represented by attorneys. These attorneys have spent at least 3 years in law school studying the various laws and procedures. Laws regarding fairness and impartiality prevent the judges and Clerk of Court’s staff from giving legal advice to anyone, including those who try to represent themselves. We recommend that you consult an attorney prior to any kind of trial or appeal to the Circuit Court. Otherwise, you will need to study the South Carolina Constitution, the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the Rules of Civil Procedure or Rules of Criminal Procedure. These laws and rules may be found in the Greenville County Main Library or Greenville Technical College Library.

In Greenville County the Circuit Court is located at the corner of Church Street and East North Street. This is a three story red brick building with a sign on your left as you enter downtown Greenville. The courthouse takes up the entire block.

The Courthouse is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.