--- title: "Heath P. Taylor | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heath-p-taylor-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-1-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Heath P. Taylor South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 1 · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 1 - State: South Carolina - Role: Circuit 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 - Elected by the South Carolina General Assembly on February 2, 2022, to fill the seat of the Honorable Edgar W. Dickson as resident judge for the First Judicial Circuit, Seat 1 - Judge Taylor was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and is a lifelong resident of Calhoun County - Before his judicial appointment, Taylor was a partner at Taylor Law Firm LLC in West Columbia, South Carolina. ### Education - University of South Carolina School of Law in — J.D. (1998) - B.A. in History, Summa Cum Laude, from Newberry College in 1995. ### Additional information - Judge Taylor has been recognized for his legal expertise, including being named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for DUI in 2012 and the South Carolina Super Lawyers list for DUI in 2020, 2021, and 2022 - He has been active in professional legal organizations, including the South Carolina Bar, where he served as Criminal Law Council Chair, and the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, serving two terms as president. - Since taking the bench, Judge Taylor has presided over high-profile cases, including a controversial boating under the influence case on Lake Murray, where he excluded lawfully collected blood alcohol evidence due to procedural issues with the search warrant. - He held the role of an Assistant Prosecutor for the Town of Irmo and as Associate Municipal Judge for the City of West Columbia. - He is admitted to practice in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and all state courts in South Carolina - He has also been involved with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College for DUI Defense, and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association - 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/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/heath-p-taylor/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/heath-p-taylor/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/heath-p-taylor/) - [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) - [Heath P. Taylor - South Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/heath-p-taylor) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heath-p-taylor-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-1-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heath-p-taylor-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-1-sc", "name": "Heath P. Taylor | KnowJudges", "description": "Heath P. Taylor, South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 1. 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