The SCPIF Blog

Written by: Eamon Flynn, Second Year Student at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law It is no secret that the American legal system is slow. A harm is suffered, a complaint is filed and responded to, discovery is conducted, and parties file motions, all before a trial is conducted. Then,…

Written by: Laird Minor, Eamon Flynn The Lawsuit A suit was brought against Clemson University over its “life trustees” serving on their board of trustees. NOLAS Trading Co. and John Sloan, taking over from his father, Ned Sloan, brought suit against Clemson over these trustees. Plaintiffs argued that these trustees violated the South Carolina Constitution…

A significant constitutional dispute over Clemson University’s Board of Trustees is making its way through South Carolina’s court system. The case, brought by NOLAS Trading Co. and Ned Sloan, later taken over by his son, John Sloan challenges the appointment and service terms of the university’s lifetime trustees. Background and Legal Framework Clemson University was…

A South Carolina judge has upheld SLED’s usage of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in South Carolina. ALPRs have been placed throughout the state and indiscriminately capture the license plates of all those who drive through their field of view. After tracking the license plates, that information would be retained in a database for up…

In Oconee County, South Carolina, there’s something in the water–taxation. In the fall of 2023, the county issued $25 million in bonds to fund wastewater and sewer treatment for an area near Interstate I-85, but it only benefits part of the county. When the bond proposal was first discussed during County Council meetings, several citizens…

What Happened? What would an extra $75 million mean to South Carolina? That amount of money could fund more than 5,000 students for an entire school year. It is nearly the entire public safety budget for the city of Columbia last year. The state could use it to pay down some debt or put it…

In the age of AI, police departments across the country are using increasingly powerful and complex technology every day. In South Carolina, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is using one such tool, automated license plate readers, without legislative permission—and without the limitations placed on them by many states. SCPIF has teamed up with The…

A group of Travelers Rest citizens are alleging constitutional violations by the Greenville County Council. The claims include that the county council has used technical loopholes to violate the state constitution by adopting a bi-annual budget rather than the required annual budget. Other claims involve council members holding closed-door meetings, violating South Carolina’s open meetings…

Constitutional Context On September 14, 1787, in the closing hours of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Ben Franklin proposed Congress be granted “a power to provide for cutting canals where deemed necessary.” Connecticut’s Roger Sherman objected, noting “The expense in such cases will fall on the United States, and the benefit accrue to the places where…