What does “primary aggressor” mean in a SC domestic violence case? Suppose your husband has been drinking, he starts an argument with you, he knocks you down and you can’t get up, so you start punching him until he lets you up? The neighbors hear the ruckus and call...
Is domestic violence a felony in SC? There are five domestic violence-related offenses in SC – some of them are classified as felonies while others are classified as misdemeanors. Regardless of the classification, domestic violence is a serious charge in SC that has...
Every so often, people ask me: What is the difference between “domestic violence” and “criminal domestic violence” in South Carolina? There is no difference. The “criminal” was dropped from the charge when SC lawmakers passed a new...
The Family Justice Center of Georgetown and Horry Counties runs a domestic violence shelter, but there are apparently no beds available in Myrtle Beach or Horry County. Although more than 60% of their clients are from Horry County, they must travel to the Center’s...
In August, I wrote about the Supreme Court’s first opinion in Doe v. State. The SC Supreme Court held that South Carolina’s domestic violence laws, both criminal and civil, discriminate against same-sex couples and violate the Equal Protection Clause: The...
The S.C. Supreme Court decided a case last week, Doe v. State, that would have the effect of denying protection against domestic violence to thousands of South Carolina citizens. The Court struck portions of South Carolina’s domestic violence statutes as...
