--- title: "Jean H. Toal | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jean-h-toal-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-5-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Jean H. Toal South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 5 · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 5 - 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 - In 2013, she became the first Chief Justice since the 1800s to face an opponent in her re-election. - Judge, Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1988-present - Jean Hoefer Toal is a retired American judge who held the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina from 2000 to 2015, making history as the first woman and first Roman Catholic to hold that office - She was re-elected in 1996 and held the role of Chief Justice from March 23, 2000, until December 31, 2015, at the mandatory retirement age - Before joining the Supreme Court, Toal practiced law for 20 years, first as an associate with the Haynsworth Law Firm in Greenville, then as an associate and partner at Belser, Baker, Barwick, Ravenel, Toal, & Bender in Columbia. ### Education - She graduated from Dreher High School in 1961, Agnes Scott College in 1965 (B.A. in Philosophy), and the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1968, where she was Managing Editor of the South Carolina Law Review. ### Additional information - She also served 13 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives (1975–1988) representing Richland County - Practitioner, 1987-1987 - legis, 1987-1987 - Born August 11, 1943. - Date of birth: 1943-08-11 - After retirement, she continued as a senior judge and oversaw asbestos-related litigation in South Carolina - She appeared in trial and appellate courts statewide, litigated in U.S. District Court and the Fourth Circuit, and made one appearance as co-counsel before the U.S. Supreme Court. - Birth place: Columbia ## 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/jean-h-toal/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/jean-h-toal/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/jean-h-toal/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5673/jean-h-toal/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5673/jean-h-toal/) - [Wikidata: Jean H. Toal](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6170794) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jean-h-toal-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-5-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jean-h-toal-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-5-sc", "name": "Jean H. Toal | KnowJudges", "description": "Jean H. Toal, South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 5. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-09", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jean-h-toal-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-5-sc#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jean-h-toal-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-5-sc#judge", "name": "Jean H. 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