Kershaw County Court Decision No Precedent for SC Lawyers

• Appellate Case No. 2024-002127, Christine Jernigan v. Kershaw County, is currently pending before the Court of Appeals.
• Rule 268(d)(2) SCACR governs the citation and reliance on non-precedential opinions in South Carolina's Appellate Court.
• Lawyers advising clients on similar cases should be aware of the limited applicability of non-precedential decisions.

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

Christine Jernigan's case against Kershaw County has garnered attention due to a peculiar aspect of the potential ruling. Appellate Case No. 2024-002127 is currently undergoing the appellate process, with filings indicating ongoing briefing and scheduling for oral arguments as of August 2026. If an opinion is issued with a crucial caveat that it holds no precedential value, lawyers and judges should exercise caution when referencing or relying on this decision in future proceedings.

The case itself involved Jernigan's dispute with Kershaw County, though the specifics of the controversy remain unclear from the available information.

South Carolina's Appellate Court has a rule that governs the citation and reliance on non-precedential opinions. Rule 268(d)(2) of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules (SCACR) explicitly states that such decisions should not be cited or relied upon as precedent in any proceeding, except under specific conditions.

This rule emphasizes the limited applicability of non-precedential opinions. The distinction between precedential and non-precedential decisions is crucial for lawyers advising clients on similar cases in South Carolina.

The implications of a non-precedential ruling extend beyond the immediate case, affecting how lawyers approach future proceedings. Given that such an opinion would have no precedential value, it may not directly influence the outcome of similar cases. However, its existence underscores the importance of understanding and navigating South Carolina's unique legal landscape.

Lawyers advising clients on similar disputes in Kershaw County or elsewhere in South Carolina should be aware of the non-precedential nature of certain opinions and their potential implications for future proceedings.

This ruling may impact lawyers advising clients on similar cases in South Carolina, as they should be aware of the non-precedential nature of this opinion and its potential implications for future proceedings.

Source: Original reporting via South Carolina Appellate Court