S.C. Code Ann. § 27-37-80
Jury trial
Operative Text
Either landlord or tenant may demand trial by jury. In such case a jury shall be summoned and a jury trial had as in any other civil case. Upon the testimony offered, under instructions by the magistrate as to the law, the jury shall find for either the landlord or tenant as in any other civil case.
Section 27-37-80 of the South Carolina Code preserves the right of either party in a landlord-tenant dispute before a magistrate to request a jury trial. When that right is invoked, the proceeding follows the same procedural rules as any other civil jury trial, with the magistrate instructing the jury on the applicable law. The jury then renders a verdict for one side or the other based on the evidence presented.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-37-80, a landlord involved in a magistrate-court proceeding—such as an eviction or possession action—should be aware that the tenant has the same right to demand a jury trial as the landlord does. Operators who understand this right generally prepare their documentation and witness testimony with the expectation that a jury, not just a magistrate, may ultimately weigh the facts. Being organized and ready for either a bench or jury proceeding is a hallmark of a well-managed landlord-tenant dispute process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
S.C. Code Ann. § 27-37-80 gives tenants the explicit right to demand a jury trial in magistrate-court proceedings, meaning a group of peers—rather than the magistrate alone—can decide the factual outcome of the case. Tenants who are aware of this right can raise it during the proceeding, and the magistrate is then required to summon a jury and conduct the trial according to standard civil procedures. Tenant-rights organizations in South Carolina can help explain how and when this right is typically exercised in local magistrate courts.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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