City of Camden to Utilize Historic Robert Mills Courthouse for Municipal Court

Municipal Court will no longer be held at City Arena. Effective immediately, municipal court hearings will be held weekly at the Historic Robert Mills Courthouse, located at 607 Broad Street in Camden. It is anticipated that jury trials will resume in January 2021 at this same location. This will be the first time in over one hundred years that regular court proceedings will be held at the historic courthouse.

The Welcome Center will remain open on the first floor while Municipal Court is being conducted in the courtroom on the second floor.

Designed in 1825 and completed in 1827, the fully-restored historic Robert Mills Courthouse features a copper roof, brick floors, vaulted central hallway and double arched ceilings downstairs. The courtroom is restored to conform to the building's 1845 renovation. Regular court proceedings were held at this location for approximately 80 years, ending circa 1907.

The City of Camden Municipal Court is employing several measures to ensure everyone’s safety. In addition to requiring the maintenance of social distancing, court hearings are staggered so that there are no more than ten (10) hearings per hour to minimize contact. Additionally, everyone who enters Robert Mills Courthouse will have his/her temperature checked and will be required to wear a face covering. A face covering will be provided for an individual who does not have access to one. All court personnel will be required to wear face coverings as well. There will be an option to remain in your vehicle until your specific matter is called before the Court. The Court is also providing multiple hand-sanitizing stations, “sneeze guards,” and will be actively cleansing the Robert Mills Courthouse to minimize any health risks.  

Individuals, victims, and witnesses are being separately notified of the rescheduled date and time to appear at Robert Mills Courthouse for the respective hearing. The City of Camden requests that if an individual is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if an individual has had close contact with an individual experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, this information should be communicated to the Clerk of Court, The Honorable Belinda Davis, at 803-432-2421, ext. 102 or via email at beldavis@camdensc.org so that the matter may be rescheduled.  

At this time, City Hall and other city offices remain closed to public access. The drive thru window at City Hall remains open. The Camden Archives and Museum, African American Cultural Center, Tennis Center of Camden and Pickleball Plaza are open, under new safety guidelines, to the public. City staff will continue to monitor the COVID-19 virus and make operational decisions as necessary. The public is encouraged to monitor information and updates at SC DHEC’s website www.scdhec.gov/covid19.