Another Hearing Held in Circuit Court on Supreme Court Majority Decision

In a hearing that lasted less than 3o minutes Thursday morning at the Orangeburg County Courthouse, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson heard two motions filed by The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC, also known as the Diocese of South Carolina) over the past two years seeking enforcement of the South Carolina Supreme Court judgement in favor of TECSC in August 2017.

Judge Dickson listened to attorneys for both sides in regard to TECSC’s Amended Petition for Execution and Further Relief on Declaratory Judgments of the SC Supreme Court and for the Appointment of a Special Master (filed on May 16, 2018); and a Petition for an Accounting (filed on July 11, 2018). In their arguments, attorneys for the Diocese of South Carolina (TECSC) suggested a course of action on enforcement including the appointment of a special master to help implement the higher court’s decision. In that majority decision handed down on August 2, 2017, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the diocesan property and 29 parishes belong to the parties affiliated with The Episcopal Church.  

Judge Dickson limited today’s hearing solely to arguments related to the above listed petitions, and declined to hear further on motions previously filed and argued by the disassociated diocese. He gave no indication as to when he would issue a ruling on any motions currently before him.