South Carolina statutory law requires that six of the ten JMSC members be state legislators.

Original jurisdiction pertains to the issuance writs including mandamus, certiorari, and very extraordinary bills.

[10] The South Carolina Supreme Court oversees the admission of individuals to practice law in the state.

[12] It also supervises the disciplining of attorneys and suspension of those no longer able to practice due to mental or physical condition.

[15] Controversy arose in late 2007 after The State newspaper reported that the Supreme Court reversed the grades of 20 people who failed the South Carolina bar exam, including children of prominent attorneys, by voiding the results of the wills, trusts, and estates section of the exam.