--- title: "R. F. Cothran Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-f-cothran-jr-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-3-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # R. F. Cothran Jr. South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 3 · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 3 - 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 - R. Ferrell Cothran, Jr. is a Circuit Court Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit in South Carolina, serving since 2006 and re‐elected in 2022 - Kolb, Jr., Solicitor of the Third Circuit as the Assistant Solicitor for Clarendon County and was the prosecuting attorney until September of 2006 - Elected on February 15, 2006 as Circuit Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit to fill the unexpired seat of Thomas W - R. F. Cothran Jr. became County Attorney in 1979 and served as County Attorney until September of 2006 - Lawyer: Began practice in 1977 with his father in Cothran, Chandler & Cothran, later renamed Cothran & Cothran - Cothran is active in the First Presbyterian Church in Manning as a Sunday School Teacher and Elder, and has held the role of Clerk of the Session ### Education - R. F. Cothran Jr. attended the University of South Carolina School of Law from 1974 – 1977 where he received his Juris Doctor Degree. - R. F. Cothran Jr. attended the University of South Carolina from 1970-1974 receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree. ### Additional information - In 1983, he was appointed by Wade S. - Ferrell Cothran, Jr. was born in Manning, South Carolina, in 1952 to the late Ralph F. Cothran and Ruth Davidson Dubose Cothran. - Birth place: Ferrell Cothran, Jr. was born in Manning, South Carolina, in 1952, to the late Ralph F. - handling real estate, family, civil, and criminal matters - He enjoys hunting, fishing, and cooking ## 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/r-ferrell-cothran-jr/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/r-ferrell-cothran-jr/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/r-ferrell-cothran-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) - [R. Ferrell Cothran, Jr.](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/r-ferrell-cothran-jr) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-f-cothran-jr-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-3-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-f-cothran-jr-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-3-sc", "name": "R. F. Cothran Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "R. F. Cothran Jr., South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 3. 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