--- title: "Donald B. Hocker | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Donald B. Hocker South Carolina Circuit Court · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court - State: South Carolina - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: recalled - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - South Carolina Circuit Court judge serving at At-Large Seat 16, elected by the South Carolina General Assembly on January 30, 2013, with a term running through June 30, 2029 - held the role of Associate Probate Judge for Laurens County (1984–2013) - As an At-Large Circuit Court judge, Hocker hears cases across multiple judicial circuits as assigned by the Chief Justice ### Education - University of South Carolina School of Law in — J.D. (1980) ### Additional information - In 2025, he was special assigned by the Supreme Court of South Carolina to preside over a cluster of Charleston County cases tied to Rep. - He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1981 and also to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and the U.S. Supreme Court - Born November 21, 1952 in Waltham, Massachusetts, Judge Hocker grew up in a military family and settled in Laurens, SC, at age 12. - Date of birth: 1952-11-21 - He is also active in the First United Methodist Church of Laurens and in community service, including as Boy Scout Troop 339’s Troop Committee Chairman ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording broadcasting photography Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 generally prohibits courtroom broadcasting, televising, recording, and photography unless an exception or presiding-judge authorization applies. Evidence excerpt: the broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court or recesses between sessions is prohibited [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic evidence presentation Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 permits the presiding judge to authorize electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation, record preservation, or judicial administration. Evidence excerpt: A presiding judge may authorize the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### media coverage notice Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 requires media representatives to give reasonable notice to the presiding judge when requesting courtroom coverage. Evidence excerpt: Media representatives must give reasonable notice to the presiding judge of a request to cover a proceeding. [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote communication technology Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 612 authorizes the Supreme Court to provide by order for courts to use remote communication technology for proceedings. Evidence excerpt: the Supreme Court of South Carolina may provide for the use of remote communication technology by the courts of this State to conduct proceedings [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### virtual and in person recording Scope: statewide South Carolina's statewide order prohibits photographing, recording, or streaming live, virtual, or broadcasted court proceedings unless the presiding judge specifically authorizes it under Rule 605. Evidence excerpt: taking still photographs, recording (visual or audio), or streaming of any live, virtual, or subsequently broadcasted court proceeding is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized by the presiding judge pursuant to Rule 605 [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/donald-b-hocker/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/donald-b-hocker/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/donald-b-hocker/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) - [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) - [Donald B. Hocker - South Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/donald-b-hocker) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc", "name": "Donald B. Hocker | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald B. Hocker, South Carolina Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc#judge", "name": "Donald B. Hocker", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc", "jobTitle": "Circuit Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "South Carolina Circuit Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/donald-b-hocker/" ], "birthDate": "1952-11-21" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "South Carolina", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/south-carolina" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Donald B. Hocker", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-b-hocker-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc" } ] } ] } ```