York, Chester, Lancaster counties have no mask mandate. But all courts now do.
Even though York, Chester and Lancaster have no countywide mask mandates, every court in all three counties now will require everyone who goes in those buildings to wear a mask.
Donald Beatty, chief justice of the S.C. Supreme Court, issued an order Thursday afternoon that requires all employees and visitors to every court in South Carolina to wear a mask inside the buildings. The rule applies to all county courthouses, and courts for cities, towns and magistrate offices, said David Hamilton, York County Clerk of Court.
Any person entering the buildings will have their temperature checked, the order states. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be denied admission, according to the order.
“Security will do what is necessary to enforce the order,” Hamilton said.
The order from Beatty took effect Friday.
It states:
“The number of COVID-19 infections in South Carolina is rapidly increasing and has reached an alarming positive test rate. In order to protect the health and safety of members of the public and judicial staff, and in order to maintain the operation of the South Carolina Unified Judicial System, I find it now necessary to issue this Order to effectuate a statewide mandate requiring a mask or other facial covering in county and municipal courthouses statewide.”
The order states that anyone who refuses to comply with the mask rule is subject to a contempt order from law enforcement or the courts.
Hamilton, who has jurisdiction over county court buildings, said staff will have thermometers for employees to check temperatures, and security will check for masks.
The municipalities of Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Chester, and York have mask mandates in effect. The counties in which those cities are located do not. But the mask rule for the courts is in effect no matter where the court is located, the order states.
York County has a county courthouse in downtown York, the Moss Justice Center in York, and Family Court in Rock Hill. There are magistrate offices in Rock Hill, York, and Fort Mill, and municipal courts in Rock Hill, York, Clover, Tega Cay, and Fort Mill.
Anyone who goes to the court to conduct any kind of business falls under the rule, Hamilton said.
Sheriff’s office deputies in all three counties handle security at entrances to the three county courthouses. York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said he already has sworn deputies working security at the three county courthouses.
“We have people assigned to those places who will continue to be there,” Tolson said.
The order states that court officials also can limit the number of people allowed in any court to ensure safe social distancing measures are followed. Judges can have people in court proceedings take off masks as needed, the order states.
Security can ask that a person take off a mask for identification purposes, the order states.
All county courthouses are open for business that includes hearings, payments, and other functions. Jury trials were halted months ago after the pandemic began.
Chester County has a county courthouse and a Family Court, along with magistrate offices in a building that houses the sheriff’s office.
Lancaster County has a county courthouse and separate magistrate offices.
Jeff Hammond, Lancaster County Clerk of Court, said his office is aware of the order and officials are prepared to enforce requirements.
