Rosalyn Frierson-Smith at a glance
- Current role
- Family Court Judge
- Court
- South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 5
- Jurisdiction
- South Carolina · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Rosalyn Frierson-Smith
Family Court Judge · South Carolina Family Court, Circuit 5
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Among Judge Frierson-Smith’s many notable accomplishments and honors, she • Received the Richland County Bar Association Civic Star Award in 2002; • Was inducted into the National Center for State Courts Warren E. Burger Society in 2014; • Was selected as a 2015 South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law Honoree; • Was selected as a recipient of the 2016 Gold Compleat Lawyer Award given by the USC School of Law Alumni Council; and • Received the 2017 COSCA Kenneth R. Palmer Distinguished Service Award recipient.
- She was 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.
Judicial service
- Judge Frierson-Smith was elected by the South Carolina Legislature as a Family Court Judge, At-Large, Seat Eight, on February 1, 2017.
Courtroom rules and guidance
Recording Broadcasting Photography
South Carolina Rule 605 generally prohibits courtroom broadcasting, televising, recording, and photography unless an exception or presiding-judge authorization applies.
the broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court or recesses between sessions is prohibitedSouth Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings ↗
Electronic Evidence Presentation
South Carolina Rule 605 permits the presiding judge to authorize electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation, record preservation, or judicial administration.
A presiding judge may authorize the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidenceSouth Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings ↗
Media Coverage Notice
South Carolina Rule 605 requires media representatives to give reasonable notice to the presiding judge when requesting courtroom coverage.
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 ↗
Remote Communication Technology
South Carolina Rule 612 authorizes the Supreme Court to provide by order for courts to use remote communication technology for proceedings.
the Supreme Court of South Carolina may provide for the use of remote communication technology by the courts of this State to conduct proceedingsSouth Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology ↗
Virtual And In Person Recording
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.
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 605Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings ↗
Sources
South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 27, 2026
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
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
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
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01