Toal recalls accomplishments at last SC state of judiciary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Chief Justice Jean Toal says she is proud of her legacy of computerizing South Carolina court records and finding alternative ways of getting cases through the justice system.

Toal gave her final state of the judiciary speech Wednesday to a joint session of the House and Senate.

Toal says in 2000, not a single courthouse had Internet service and all records were on paper. Now all records are online and Toal plans to start a program where court documents are filed electronically in Greenville and Clarendon counties. She also has encouraged drug courts, fast track jury trials and other reforms.

Toal will turn 72 in August, which is the mandatory retirement age for South Carolina judges.

She ended her speech as she always has, with a picture of her grandson.