Cayce Municipal Court

Welcome to Cayce Municipal Court. The court is part of the integrated judicial system for South Carolina and serves as the judicial branch in the government of the City of Cayce. We are committed to administering justice in a fair, efficient and professional manner and to ensuring that the rights of all persons are observed. With a focus on protecting those rights and privileges and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United State of America and of the State of South Carolina, Cayce Municipal Court will consistently and impartially interpret, apply and abide by applicable laws. We seek to continually enhance our court operations to promote confidence in our court.

Municipal Court Information

The Cayce Municipal Court is located at 2 Lavern Jumper Road (in the A.G. Dantzler Public Safety Building at Cayce City Hall). The Honorable Shannon F. Bobertz and The Honorable Bryan S. Jeffries serve as Co-Chief Judges. As Clerk of Court, Rachel Aucoin is responsible for administering the daily operations of the Cayce Municipal Court.

Cayce Municipal Court schedules and adjudicates criminal, traffic and city ordinance violations that occur within the City of Cayce. As a court of limited jurisdiction, the Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases and those cases that are subject to a fine of up to $500.00 (not including mandatory assessments and fees) and/or that are subject to a sentence not exceeding imprisonment of 30 days. Cayce Municipal court may also hear cases that are remanded back from Richland or Lexington County General Sessions Courts if the associated fines and sentences do not exceed $5,500.00 or one year of imprisonment.

Counties covered in City Limits: Lexington and Richland

Responsibilities

The Municipal Court Division provides:

• Case docketing
• Case management
• Alternative sentence monitoring
• Court fines collection
• Court fine and case load reporting

Municipal Court judges and staff ensure citizens and users of the court receive efficient, fair and impartial justice, regardless of individual circumstances and background, in order to protect each citizen’s right to due process under the laws of our country and state.

Cayce Municipal Court conducts bench trials every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. and Thursday at 2:30 p.m..

Appearing in Court

All visitors should wear clean and properly fitted clothes. Shirts and shoes are required. Unacceptable attire includes but is not limited to: clothing that is torn, dirty, provocative, clothing with offensive depictions, tank tops, shorts, hats and flip-flops.

Courtroom Etiquette

• Arrive early and prepared.
  
• Turn off all cell phones before entering the courtroom.
  
• Gum and tobacco are not allowed.
  
• Speak using formal English; not slang.
  
• Do not approach the Judge's bench or Clerk of Court's desk without permission.
  
• When your case is called, go to the podium, address the judge as "Your Honor," speak only when instructed; do not interrupt.
  
• When answering questions, be brief and answer the question asked and stop.
  
• Do not utilize profanity.
  
• Do not enter and depart the courtroom excessively.
  

Prohibited Items
Weapons, food and drink are prohibited in the courtroom. Cell phones should be turned off prior to entering the courtroom to avoid possible confiscation in the event of cell phones making audible noise.

Security
Everyone who enters the courtroom must pass through a metal detector/wand and may be subject to search, including any belongings brought inside the building.

Trial Options

If you elect to appear on your scheduled court date, you will have the options of pleading “not guilty”, “nolo contendere”, or “guilty”. In all instances you have the right to counsel and to a jury trial. A bench trial (trial before a judge) may also be conducted. Bench trials will be heard and disposed of by the judge on the scheduled court date. If you would like to request a jury trial, see the Clerk of Court to request a jury trial and you will be notified of your next appearance date by the court.

Court Staff Cannot

View a list of some things the court staff can and cannot do. (opens in a new tab)

Jury Duty Information

Juror Disqualification Criteria
You may be disqualified from serving as a Municipal Court juror if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are not a U.S. Citizen
  
• You do not reside in the city of Cayce
  
• You work in a court capacity
  
• You have served on a Cayce Municipal Court jury within the same calendar year
  
• You have a mental/physical condition that prevents you from serving
  
• You pled guilty to or were found guilty of a crime which carried as punishment a year or more in jail and you have not had your rights restored by amnesty or pardon.
  

You may be exempt from serving as a Municipal Court juror if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are 65 years of age or older and wish to be excused
  
• You have legal custody, duty of care of a child under the age of 7 and you do not work outside the home
  
• You are the primary caregiver of a person age 65 or older or a disabled person who cannot care for themselves and you do not work outside the home
  
• You have served on a Cayce Municipal Court jury during the previous year
  

If you believe you meet any of the disqualification and/or exempt criteria, you must submit a notarized statement and/or proof attesting to the above statement.

Reporting for Jury Duty
When arriving for Jury Duty, you will be separated from parties to the cases being called. It is important that you do not speak with any party to the cases. Please do not bring food, drink, relatives or friends with you.

Paying Your Fines

Traffic Charges
Full payment is due on all traffic charges on the assigned court date unless otherwise ordered by the court. You can pay your ticket in person between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday thru Friday at the Clerk of Court Office in the lobby of the Cayce Public Safety Building, located at 2 Lavern Jumper Road, Cayce S.C. 29033.

Criminal Charges
Full payment is due the day of sentencing unless otherwise ordered by the court

Pay Court Fines
Cayce Municipal Court accepts cash, bank cashier’s check, money order, debit and credit cards.

You may make your payment in person Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Cayce Municipal Court does not accept debit or credit card payments over the phone. You may make a debit or credit card payment online (opens in a new tab) or by calling the bilingual call center at 1-800-262-0128. Please note there are fees for making debit or credit card payments.

If you choose to mail a money order or cashier’s check, please address it as follows:

Cayce MunicipalCourt
Post Office Box 3408
Cayce, South Carolina 29171

All mailed payments should include the ticket/warrant number and your current address as well as a return postage-paid envelope to facilitate the return of your receipt.

Bond Estreatments

Please be advised that effective April 1, 2013, if a defendant fails to appear for trial after notice or if the defendant otherwise fails to comply with the conditions of his or her release, the defendant’s bond may be estreated by a City of Cayce Municipal Court Judge. A bench warrant will be issued and a copy of the bench warrant will be made available to the surety for pickup at the Clerk of Court’s office in Lexington, South Carolina within seven days of it being issued. If the bondsman fails to surrender the defendant or place a hold on the defendant's release from any institution or facility within ninety days of the issuance of the bench warrant, the bond will be forfeited.

If you have any questions regarding the City of Cayce Municipal Court bond estreament process, please contact the Clerk of Court at 803-550-9550. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Frequent Questions

View our frequenty asked questions page for answers to common court questions.

Court Forms

• Motion to Reopen (opens in a new tab) (pdf)