--- title: "Rosalyn Frierson-Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rosalyn-frierson-smith-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-5-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Rosalyn Frierson-Smith South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 5 · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 5 - 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 - Elected by the South Carolina Legislature as a Family Court Judge, At-Large, Seat Eight, on February 1, 2017 - Rosalyn Woodson Frierson‐Smith is an at‐large Family Court Judge, Seat 8 for the South Carolina Circuit Family Court, elected by the South Carolina General Assembly on February 1, 2017 - Substitute Municipal Court Judge for Columbia ### Education - University of South Carolina School of Law — J.D. ### Additional information - Received the 2017 COSCA Kenneth R. Palmer Distinguished Service Award recipient - Appointed Director of South Carolina Court Administration by the South Carolina Supreme Court, serving from 1998 until June 2017, having previously served as a S.C. Supreme Court Staff Attorney, Law Clerk to former Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. and Research/Budget Analyst for the Ways and Means Committee of the S.C. House of Representatives - Was selected as a recipient of the 2016 Gold Compleat Lawyer Award given by the USC School of Law Alumni Council - Was selected as a 2015 South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law Honoree - Was inducted into the National Center for State Courts Warren E. Burger Society in 2014 - She is a member of the SC Bar Association, American Bar Association, Richland County Bar Association, SC Black Lawyers Association, and SC Women Lawyers Association, and has held leadership roles including President of the SC Women Lawyers Association (2007) - Received the Richland County Bar Association Civic Star Award in 2002 - A native of Columbia, SC, Judge Frierson‐Smith obtained a B.S. in Business Administration - As an at‐large Family Court Judge, she handles cases under Seat 8 of the SC Circuit Family Court, with assignments in Richland County - Among Judge Frierson-Smith’s many notable accomplishments and honors, she ## 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/rosalyn-frierson-smith/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/rosalyn-frierson-smith/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/rosalyn-frierson-smith/) - [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) - [Official biography source for Rosalyn Frierson-Smith](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/judges/rosalyn-frierson-smith) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rosalyn-frierson-smith-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-5-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rosalyn-frierson-smith-family-court-judge-south-carolina-family-court-circuit-5-sc", "name": "Rosalyn Frierson-Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "Rosalyn Frierson-Smith, South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 5. 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