South Carolina Courts Told to Clear Backlog of Drunk Driving Cases

South Carolina’s top judge has ordered courts across the state to clear a backlog of thousands of drunken driving cases after state troopers complained delays were keeping them in the courtroom and off the highways.

Chief Justice Jean Toal issued a statewide order last week asking courts over the next several months to close all their open simple driving under the influence and driving with unlawful alcohol concentration cases that are older than 60 days for non-jury cases and 120 days for ones to be argued before jurors.

Toal told The Post and Courier of Charleston she issued the order after Public Safety Director Mark Keel came to her with complaints from his troopers saying the court delays are keeping them from patrolling the state’s roads.

Topics Personal Auto