SC Chief Justice Kittredge Implements Magistrate Reforms Without Legislature

House kills aggressive magistrate reform bill, but top judge moves forward with his own improvements to training and testing requirements.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The South Carolina House voted to kill a bill that would have raised qualifications, jurisdiction, and pay for magistrates, but Chief Justice John Kittredge is moving forward with his own reforms to improve the training and testing of magistrates across the state. Kittredge is eliminating the 'smallest number' test, raising the passing score on the certification exam, and adding a significant ethics component to the required training.

Why it matters

Magistrates handle the vast majority of criminal and civil cases in South Carolina, so ensuring they are properly qualified and ethical is crucial for the state's justice system. While the Legislature failed to pass reforms, the Chief Justice's actions demonstrate the court's ability to raise standards independently.

The details

Chief Justice Kittredge is utilizing the Supreme Court's authority to design training and testing requirements for magistrates, which has been underutilized in the past. He is eliminating the 'smallest number' test, raising the passing score on the certification exam from 70 to 80, and expanding the training to include a significant ethics component. Magistrates will also have to pass the certification exam every four years instead of every eight. Kittredge says these changes will mean 'not everyone nominated for a magistrate judgeship will make it' through the new vetting process.

  • The new testing and training requirements are expected to be in place by the end of the current legislative session in May 2026.
  • Magistrates will have to pass the expanded certification exam every four years, up from the previous requirement of every eight years.

The players

John Kittredge

The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, who is implementing reforms to improve the training and testing of magistrates across the state.

Tommy Pope

The South Carolina House Speaker Pro Tempore, who moved to recommit the magistrate reform bill to committee, effectively killing it for the current legislative session.

Henry McMaster

The Governor of South Carolina, who has broken with tradition by requiring would-be magistrates to complete an exhaustive questionnaire before he nominates them.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were holding the hand of the applicants and dragging them to the finish line.”

— John Kittredge, Chief Justice, South Carolina Supreme Court

“Magistrates who score just 70 'probably shouldn't be judging'; if they simply read the material, they should score at least 90.”

— John Kittredge, Chief Justice, South Carolina Supreme Court

What’s next

The new testing and training requirements are expected to be in place by the end of the current legislative session in May 2026, at which point the Chief Justice hopes to have a more rigorous vetting process for magistrate appointments.

The takeaway

While the legislature failed to pass reforms, the Chief Justice's actions demonstrate the court's ability to independently raise standards for magistrates, who handle the vast majority of criminal and civil cases in South Carolina. These improvements to training, testing, and ethics requirements aim to ensure magistrates are properly qualified and ethical.