--- title: "H. Bruce Williams | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/h-bruce-williams-chief-judge-south-carolina-court-of-appeals-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # H. Bruce Williams South Carolina Court of Appeals · Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals - State: South Carolina - Role: Chief Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Elected to the South Carolina Court of Appeals in 2004 by the state legislature and became Chief Judge in 2022 ### Education ### Additional information - His term as Chief Judge runs until 2028 - He was Vice-Chair (2017–2019) and Chair (2019–2021) of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. - In 1995, he was elected Family Court Judge for the 5th Judicial District and later presided over the Richland County Juvenile Drug Court from its inception in 1997, earning the Governor’s Program Achievement Award for Juvenile Drug Court in 1998 - Began his legal career in private practice in Columbia until 1995. - He held the role of a part-time Associate Town Judge in Irmo, SC (1991–1995) and held two terms on the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Family Law Section Board. - He graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1982 - He attended public schools in Columbia, earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Government in 1978 from Wofford College, where he held the role of President of the Student Body and was selected to the Blue Key Honor Society. - Bruce Williams was born March 13, 1956 in Columbia, South Carolina, to Edna Richardson Harris and H. Lanier Williams. - Williams has held the role of President of the South Carolina Conference of Family Court Judges and Secretary-Treasurer. - He is also Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, teaching Family Law - Birth place: Columbia, South Carolina ## 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/court-of-appeals/judges/h-bruce-williams/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/court-of-appeals/judges/h-bruce-williams/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/court-of-appeals/judges/h-bruce-williams/) - [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) - [H. Bruce Williams - South Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.sccourts.org/appeals/displayJudge.cfm?judgeID=1131) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/h-bruce-williams-chief-judge-south-carolina-court-of-appeals-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/h-bruce-williams-chief-judge-south-carolina-court-of-appeals-sc", "name": "H. Bruce Williams | KnowJudges", "description": "H. Bruce Williams, South Carolina Court of Appeals. 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/h-bruce-williams-chief-judge-south-carolina-court-of-appeals-sc#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/h-bruce-williams-chief-judge-south-carolina-court-of-appeals-sc#judge", "name": "H. 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