--- title: "Gerald C. Smoak Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gerald-c-smoak-jr-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-14-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Gerald C. Smoak Jr. South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 14 · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 14 - State: South Carolina - Role: Family Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Gerald C. Smoak, Jr. is a Family Court Judge for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in South Carolina, serving since July 1, 1995, and re‐elected in 2019 - Elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the position of Family Court Judge, Seat #1 for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and took office July 1, 1995 where he has served continuously since - After law school, he was the law clerk to the Honorable William T. Howell — 1983–1984 ### Education - University of South Carolina School of Law — J.D. (1983) - University of South Carolina — B.A. (1980) - John C. Calhoun Academy (now Colleton Prep Academy) — graduated (1977) ### Additional information - Elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the Family Court bench in 1995, Smoak has served continuously since - Gerald C. Smoak Jr. then went into private practice — 1984–1995 - Gerald C. Smoak Jr. also served as the Public Defender for the City of Walterboro from 1985 to 1995, The Fourteenth Circuit assistant Solicitor for prosecuting DSS Child Abuse and Neglect cases, 1984 to 1993, and 1994 - 1995, Part-time Public Defender for Colleton County for conflict cases 1993 to 1995, and Part-time teacher for the Technical College of the Lowcountry paralegal courses from 1986 to 1994 - Birth place: Smoak, Jr. was born in Walterboro, South Carolina in 1959 - Gerald C. Smoak Jr. was a member of the Moot Court Bar while in law school - Gerald C. Smoak, Sr., and Joette Smoak Haven - He was a member of the Moot Court Bar during law school - He is a member of the South Carolina Bar and Colleton County Bar ## 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/family-court/judges/gerald-c-smoak-jr/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/gerald-c-smoak-jr/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/gerald-c-smoak-jr/) - [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) - [Gerald C. Smoak, Jr.](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/gerald-c-smoak-jr) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gerald-c-smoak-jr-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-14-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gerald-c-smoak-jr-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-14-sc", "name": "Gerald C. Smoak Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Gerald C. Smoak Jr., South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 14. 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