Fourth Circuit Solicitor’s Office Gives Year In Review

From the Fourth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Paul M. Burch, Jr.
January 1, 2026
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It is with great pleasure the the Fourth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is able to provide the following information about our office.
The Fourth Judicial Circuit demonstrated significant progress in case resolution during 2025, ranking among the top circuits statewide in reducing case backlogs.
From January 2025 through December 2025, the Fourth Circuit ranked third in the state for reducing three-year-old and older cases, achieving a 29% reduction, trailing only the 16th and 8th Judicial Circuits.
Additionally, the Fourth Circuit ranked seventh statewide in overall case reductions during the same period, with a 12.7% decrease in total pending cases.
“Hats off to our attorneys and staff for the hard work they put in to providing justice to the citizens of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro counties this year,” said Mike Burch, Solicitor for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. “It is my goal to reduce the backlog in our circuit so we can provide justice to victims in a more expedient manner. Historically, the Fourth Circuit has been at the bottom of the state statistically in these categories. It is a testament to the commitment of our staff that we are heading in the right direction, and these statistics prove that.”
The improved rankings reflect continued efforts by the Fourth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to address longstanding case backlogs and improve efficiency across the judicial process.