As a reminder, beginning March 6, 2023, cases will be assigned according to the announcement posted on February 10, 2023. From March 6, 2023, until on or about May 31, 2023, cases filed in the Columbia Division will be assigned as follows:
• Duncan – retain assigned cases filed before March 6, 2023.
• Burris – assigned cases filed on or after March 6, 2023, from Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chester, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, or Richland Counties (this constitutes counties where Chapter 13 cases are assigned to Trustee Mathews).
• Gasparini – assigned cases filed on or after March 6, 2023, from Chesterfield, Fairfield, Florence, Kershaw, Lexington, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, Saluda, or Sumter Counties (this constitutes counties where Chapter 13 cases are assigned to Trustee Simmons-Beasley).
Regardless of the judge assigned to a case in CM/ECF per the above list, Judge Duncan may preside over the Columbia Division hearings assigned to other judges until his retirement.
Chapter 13 Case Procedures – Columbia Division
For Columbia Division cases, regardless of judge assignment, parties should continue to follow Judge Duncan’s Preferences for Chapter 13 cases until further notice. This also includes requirements found in Operating Order 22-04: Conduit Mortgage Payments in Cases Assigned to Judge Duncan and Judge Gasparini. Ample notice will be given of any change in guidelines, preferences, or procedure.
Self-Scheduling of Columbia Hearings Scheduled to Occur in March - May
For scheduling Columbia division hearings that will occur in March, April, and May, the judges have published one set of hearing dates found on Judge Duncan’s self-scheduling calendar. Please refer to Judge Duncan’s self-scheduling calendars for hearing dates and times, regardless of judge assignment. However, when filing a notice of hearing, select the assigned judge when inputting the hearing location in CM/ECF. The assigned judge’s initials can be found after the case number (dd, eg, hb) and the assigned judge’s name appears in the upper left-hand corner of the CM/ECF docket.
Self-Scheduling of Columbia Hearings Scheduled to Occur in June and Thereafter
Judges Burris and Gasparini have published self-scheduling calendars for the Columbia division for June and will add subsequent months at the appropriate time. Judge Duncan does not have a corresponding June calendar. When scheduling hearings in cases currently assigned to Judge Duncan scheduled to occur in June and thereafter, refer to Judge Burris or Judge Gasparini’s self-scheduling calendars for hearing dates and times according to the following:
• Burris dates and times – all cases (new and reassigned) from Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chester, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, or Richland Counties (this constitutes counties where Chapter 13 cases are assigned to Trustee Mathews).
• Gasparini dates and times– all cases (new and reassigned) from Chesterfield, Fairfield, Florence, Kershaw, Lexington, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, Saluda, or Sumter Counties (this constitutes counties where Chapter 13 cases are assigned to Trustee Simmons-Beasley).
When filing a notice of hearing, select the assigned judge when inputting the hearing location in CM/ECF. When cases assigned to Judge Duncan are transferred to the other judges per the assignment above on or about May 31, 2023, the hearings will follow and appear on the newly assigned judge’s calendar, avoiding any need for rescheduling due to the judge change.
We appreciate your patience during this time of transition. If you need further assistance with the above during this time, please contact 803-765-5436 and you will be directed to the appropriate person to assist.