A court calendar lists the hearings set for a given day, along with the courtroom, the judge, and the case number for each matter. In Richland County, South Carolina, the division handling a case publishes its own schedule.
A printed date is a plan, not a guarantee. Hearings are continued, moved to another room, or resolved before the listed time. Anyone who plans to attend should check the docket close to the date and allow time for a courtroom change. The sections below describe the search fields.
Court Calendar Search
Start with the case number and confirm the room before you travel.
- Enter the case number from a notice or bond form when one is available.
- Search by party name only when the number is missing, and expect many results for common names.
- Filter by division and hearing date to cut a long list down to the right docket.
- Compare the courtroom and time against the case docket before treating the entry as final.
- Check again on the morning of the hearing, since a continuance may not reach an older printout.
Court Schedule Information
A published schedule usually shows the date, the start time, the courtroom, the case caption, the case number, and the judge assigned. Some divisions add a status code or a note about whether the hearing is in person or remote. Read the whole row rather than only the time, since a courtroom change may appear in a separate column. Confirm the details with the clerk if a row looks incomplete.
Hearing Time & Courtroom Location
Arrive with enough time to pass through security and find the assigned room, since hearings often begin in a group and a late arrival can be marked. The courtroom number on the calendar may change on the day of the hearing, and a posted list at the entrance often carries the latest assignment. Ask a deputy or clerk to confirm the room when the number is missing.
Case Number & Listed Parties
The case number is the most reliable way to match a calendar row to a file, and it usually follows a year, court, and sequence pattern. Party names may appear as the plaintiff and defendant in a civil matter, the state and defendant in a criminal matter, or petitioner and respondent in a family case. A caption can list a business entity or a minor. Use the number, not the name, when confirming a match.
Hearing Type & Presiding Judge
Each row names a hearing type, such as an arraignment, a motion, a status conference, a trial, or a sentencing. The type tells you roughly how long the matter may take and who must appear. The judge assigned appears in a separate column and may be a circuit judge sitting for the term. Confirm the judge and the type with the clerk when the calendar shows a blank field.
Calendar Status Codes
Courts often use short codes to mark a scheduled event, and the meaning can differ by division. A code may signal that a hearing is confirmed, continued, cancelled, or awaiting a decision. The calendar legend or the clerk’s office can decode a specific entry. Write down the code and the date it appeared, then ask for the plain-language meaning before you adjust travel or leave plans.
Types of Court Hearings
Court calendars group proceedings by purpose, and the label on a row tells a reader what to expect. Criminal dockets carry arraignments, motions, trials, and sentencings. Civil dockets carry case management conferences, summary judgment motions, and trials. Family dockets carry temporary hearings, merits hearings, and support reviews. The division that set the hearing controls the format and the terms used on its own published calendar list.
Civil, Criminal & Family Dockets
Civil cases move through a docket managed by the clerk, with deadlines set by rule and by court order. Criminal cases follow the term of court and the solicitor’s trial list. Family matters are heard on a separate docket that protects confidential details. A single courthouse may host all three on the same day, so check the division and the room rather than the building alone.
| Docket | Matters usually heard | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Civil docket | Claims, motions, and trials between parties | Clerk of Court |
| Criminal docket | Charges, pleas, trials, and sentencings | Clerk of Court |
| Family docket | Divorce, custody, support, and related matters | Family Court |
| Magistrate docket | Lesser criminal and traffic matters | Central Court |
Arraignments & Pretrial Hearings
An arraignment is an early appearance where the charge is read and a plea may be entered. A pretrial hearing covers motions, discovery disputes, and scheduling before trial. Either event can be reset when a party is not ready or a required report is missing. Bring the case number and any notice you received, and arrive early enough to be seated before the roll call.
Motions, Trials & Sentencings
A motion hearing asks the judge to decide a narrow issue, often before trial. A trial may run for a day or span a week, and the calendar usually sets a start date rather than a finish date. A sentencing hearing follows a plea or verdict and sets the penalty. Check the docket the evening before, since a courtroom or time change can post late in the day.
Schedule Changes & Remote Attendance
Courts revise calendars for weather, judicial assignments, and case readiness, and a published date can shift with little notice. A continuance moves a hearing to a later date, and a cancellation may remove the row entirely. Some proceedings allow remote attendance by video or telephone, with rules set by the judge. Check the docket and call the division before traveling on the day of a hearing.
Rescheduled & Continued Hearings
A rescheduled hearing carries a new date and often a new courtroom, and the old row may stay visible for a short period. Look for the most recent entry and compare the timestamp or sequence number. If two dates appear, ask the clerk which one controls before making plans. Keep the written notice that announced any change, since it may be the clearest proof of the current setting.
In-Person Attendance Rules
Most hearings remain open to the public, and expect a security screening at the entrance. Phones, recording devices, and food are often restricted, and a deputy can outline the rules for a specific courtroom. Arrive before the docket is called and sit in the gallery, and follow any direction from the judge or staff. Confirm the visitor policy with the clerk if you plan to bring a child or a support person.
Virtual Hearing Links
A remote hearing usually requires a link or dial-in number supplied by the court, and the notice may arrive by email or through a case portal. Join early to test the connection and mute the microphone until the judge calls the case. Do not record a session without the court’s permission. If the link fails, call the division and ask for the courtroom number so you can appear in person.
Schedule Accuracy & Resolution
Calendars are working documents, and a posted row can lag behind a decision made in court. A judge may reschedule a matter during a hearing, and the update may not reach the public list until staff enter it. Read the docket notes and the most recent filing before relying on a date. Confirm unusual entries with the division, and keep a copy of any written notice.
Calendar Update Delays
Updates can take from hours to days, and the gap grows around holidays, heavy trial weeks, or a change in judicial assignment. A date shown as pending or to be set is not a firm setting. Call the division if a hearing is close and the calendar still shows an old entry. A signed notice from the court is stronger evidence than a screenshot of a public list.
Confidential & Sealed Hearings
Some matters are closed or partially sealed, and the public calendar may list only a case number or a generic description. Juvenile, adoption, and certain protective proceedings often carry tighter limits. A sealed file does not mean the hearing is secret to the parties involved, who may still receive notice. Ask the clerk what can be released to the public and which portions require a separate court order.
Missing Schedule Resolution
When a case does not appear on the calendar, begin with the case number and ask the division whether the hearing was set, moved, or removed. A matter may be assigned to another judge or courtroom and listed on a separate sheet. Check the docket for a notice of hearing. If no record exists, request written confirmation of the next step rather than waiting for a posting. A case lookup can confirm the case number used on the calendar.
County Contact Information
Court calendar questions usually reach the division that scheduled the hearing rather than a single county switchboard. The Clerk of Court handles circuit filings, Family Court manages domestic matters, and Central Court covers magistrate-level cases. Each office keeps its own schedule and can confirm a courtroom, a time, or a change. Use the table to find the right contact, then call the office before you travel.
| Office | Address | Phone | Contact | Website | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County Clerk of Court | 1701 Main St, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201 | 803-576-1950 | Official contact form | richlandcountysc.gov | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Richland County Family Court | 1701 Main St, 1st Floor West Wing, Columbia, SC 29201 | 803-576-3320 | Official contact form | richlandcountysc.gov | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Richland County Central Court | 2500 Decker Blvd, Columbia, SC 29206 | 803-576-2300 | Official contact form | richlandcountysc.gov | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Richland County Administration and Public Information | 2020 Hampton St, Columbia, SC 29204 | 803-576-2050 | Official contact form | richlandcountysc.gov | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. |
A calendar is only as current as the last entry staff posted, so a printed or saved copy can go stale within hours. Note the case number, the division, and the date you checked, and keep any notice that arrived by mail or email. If two sources disagree, ask the clerk which one controls. Confirm current hearing details directly with the division before you leave for the courthouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Readers often want a direct answer about update times, rescheduled dates, remote attendance, and the office that confirms an appearance. The short notes below cover those points without repeating the calendar rules above. Use them to frame a call to the clerk, and rely on the docket or a signed notice for the final word on any setting. None of them replaces the case file itself.
When are daily court schedules updated?
Divisions post a daily list at different times; some publish the evening before, and others update on the morning of the hearing. A weekly or monthly calendar may appear earlier and carry less detail. Times shown on a public list can still change after a judge rules on a continuance. Call the division before an early hearing if the public posting has not changed by the day before.
How do I verify a rescheduled court date?
A written notice, an updated docket entry, and a call to the division are the three checks worth making before a rescheduled date. Compare the old and new entries and note the date each one was posted. If the court sent a notice by mail, bring it to the hearing. Ask the clerk to confirm the courtroom too, since a new date sometimes comes with a new room.
Are virtual hearings open to the public?
Remote viewing of a hearing depends on the judge’s order and the court’s equipment, and not every session is streamed. When the public may join, the court usually publishes a link or a dial-in number with instructions for muting and identifying yourself. A visitor should not record or broadcast the proceeding. Ask the division whether a specific virtual session is open to public observers before you plan to join.
Who confirms unlisted court appearances? .
An appearance that does not show on the public calendar may still be scheduled, and the parties usually hold a notice. Call the division with the case number and the name of the judge if known. Ask whether the matter is closed, sealed, or assigned to another term. Request an email or written confirmation, and arrive at the courthouse prepared to show the notice to staff.