Familiar, notable names seek to be appointed judges in SC, including chief justice candidate

A number of upcoming judicial races in South Carolina may pique interest among the state’s legal community, with several familiar names vying for appointment.

Nearly 70 candidates so far have submitted their names for consideration to the Judicial Merit Selection Committee for appointment or retention to the bench in South Carolina. Of the candidates, several are of notable interest, including state Supreme Court Justice John Kittredge, who, barring an extraordinary event, will become the state’s next chief justice.

Other races include multiple seats on the Court of Appeals, Circuit, Family and Administrative Law Courts and Master-in-Equity. There’s also a retired judge seat up for consideration.

In South Carolina, candidates for judicial office must first apply to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which is a 10-member statutorily created body charged with considering candidates’ qualifications. Following a review of a candidate’s background, the commission then forwards a report to the General Assembly — except for masters-in-equity, which are considered by county legislative delegations — detailing whether the candidate is fit to serve. Legislators then decide which candidate they’ll recommend to McMaster for appointment.

SC Supreme Court

Associate Justice Kittredge is the only candidate who will be considered for chief justice on the all-male state Supreme Court, as current Chief Justice John Beatty is set to retire next year.

Kittredge is the most senior associate justice on the court, and by longstanding tradition, the senior associate justice runs unopposed for the vacancy created by a retiring chief justice and is elected by acclamation.

Kittredge, a University of South Carolina and University of South Carolina School of Law graduate, was elected to the S.C. Supreme Court in 2008. Before that, he was a family court judge from 1991 to 1996, a circuit court judge from 1996-2003 and a Court of Appeals judge from 2003 to 2008.

Court of Appeals

Six candidates are vying for two seats on the Court of Appeals.

The race for Seat 9, which is a newly created seat, is the one to watch, with five candidates having thrown their name in the hat, including Grayson Lambert, chief deputy and senior legal counsel to Gov. Henry McMaster.

Lambert, who’s served in the governor’s office since 2021, is known for representing McMaster in a variety of high-profile cases ranging from mask mandates to abortion bans.

Other candidates for Seat 9 include Whitney Harrison of Columbia, Family Court Judges Jan Bromell Holmes and Matthew Turner of Georgtown and Laurens, respectively, and Jason Luther of Columbia.

Judge Jerry Vinson Jr. is the incumbent for Seat 8 and the only candidate running for that position.

Circuit Court

More than 40 candidates are running for more than 20 seats on the Circuit Court, including four at-large seats.

Lawmakers from Richland County will undoubtedly hone in on Seat 1 for the 5th Judicial Ciricuit, which covers Kershaw and Richland Counties.

In that race, Columbia lawyer and former lawmaker James Smith is challenging attorney Justin Williams, who serves on the public service commission for South Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District.

Smith, who served more than 20 years in the S.C. House, was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2018 against McMaster, who was ultimately reelected.

Williams, an African American, is a former assistant solicitor for the 5th Judicial Circuit and insurance defense lawyer.

Notably, Seat 1 has historically been held by an African American, representing Richland County’s large Black population.

Both Smith and Williams are military veterans. Smith was awarded a Purple Heart for a combat tour an Afghanistan, and Williams served as a Judge Advocate General in Iraq’s combat zone.

Several candidates are challenging Circuit Court incumbents, including attorneys Brent Halversen and Melanie Yenovkian.

Halversen is running against Judge Bently Price for Seat 2 on the 9th Judicial Circuit, and Yenovkian is vying against Judge Jessica Salvini for Seat 2 on the 13th circuit.

William McMaster III has applied for an at-large seat in the 14th Circuit. McMaster has no known relation to Gov. McMaster, according to the governor’s office.

Another potentially familiar name among judicial candidates is Judge Milton Kimpson, the eldest brother of former state Sen. Marlon Kimpson, who recently left the Senate to join President Biden’s administration.

Retired judge

Longtime jurist and the first female state Supreme Court justice, Jean Toal, is the only candidate who will be considered for the retired judge position.

Retired judges in South Carolina may continue to serve on the bench at the discretion of the chief justice, provided they are deemed qualified by the JMSC.

Unlike other judicial positions, which require the approval of Legislature and governor, qualified retired judges are forwarded directly to the chief justice.