‘An honor to serve’: York County SC Clerk of Court Hamilton retires after 26+ years

Andrew Dys
·2 min read

For more than a quarter century in York County, Clerk of Court David Hamilton held the job as the official keeper of all court records. Every deed for a home and judicial order in a custody case, and everything in between, had to be kept in order.

It was Hamilton’s name on the filing seal of every piece of paper and electronic record. Thousands of people depended on Hamilton, an accountant by vocation, to keep the records straight.

“People expect the records to be kept properly and that is what we did,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton, 67, and known for his red hair, called it a career Friday after 26 years as clerk of court. He said he retired so he can spend more time with his family.

No longer will Hamilton have to manage all those records and the 65 employees in five offices in York and Rock Hill.

In 2018 Hamilton was honored as the top clerk in South Carolina.

Hundreds of people stopped by the Moss Justice Center courthouse in York Thursday at the close of the business day for a party to thank him for his service. Hamilton said it was superb, the dedicated staff over all the years that made the clerk’s office work properly for the people.

“It was an honor to serve my community,” said Hamilton, from Rock Hill. “We serve the public. The people. That was always the first priority.”

York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton holds up the key to the newly renovated courthouse during a grand opening celebration Sunday.
York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton holds up the key to the newly renovated courthouse during a grand opening celebration Sunday.

The clerk of court in all 46 counties in South Carolina is a required office under state law. It is an elected position that requires candidates to run every four years. Hamilton, a Republican, emerged from a crowded field of hopefuls in 1996 to win the job, and he won in unopposed elections every four years since.

“I had to run for this office, but I’m not a politician,” Hamilton said.

Angie Bryant, longtime deputy clerk, will take over as clerk. She was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to fill Hamilton’s unexpired term until the 2024 election.

As clerk, Hamilton under South Carolina law is in charge of all county courthouse buildings. That means in York County the historic York County Courthouse in downtown York, the Moss Justice Center in York, Family Court in Rock Hill, plus the register of deeds and passport offices.

Hamilton led the charge to modernize the courthouses and help people have better access to public and legal information.

York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton joins other York County leaders in cutting the ribbon of the newly renovated courthouse.
York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton joins other York County leaders in cutting the ribbon of the newly renovated courthouse.

Hamilton also had to make tough decisions. He pushed for millions of dollars in public money for renovations to the two York courthouses to modernize the buildings, computers, and infrastructure. He worked for years to have a new Family Court built in Rock Hill. He made the decision not to have Confederate memorabilia placed back in the York County Courthouse main courtroom after renovations.

Hamilton said his goal was always to better serve the people.

“The people, the public -- that’s what the courthouse represents,” Hamilton said.