Donald W. Beatty

Don Beatty
Don Beatty
Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
	In office; January 1, 2017 – July 31, 2024
Preceded by	Costa M. Pleicones
Succeeded by	John W. Kittredge
Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
	In office; May 23, 2007 – December 21, 2016
Preceded by	E. C. Burnett III
Succeeded by	George C. James
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives; from the 31st district
	In office; January 1991 – January 1995
Preceded by	Tee Ferguson
Succeeded by	Brenda Lee
Personal details
Born	Donald Wayne Beatty; April 29, 1952 (age 72); Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	South Carolina State University (BA); University of South Carolina, Columbia (JD)

Donald Wayne Beatty (born April 29, 1952) is a former chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court and a former South Carolina state court judge and state representative.^[1]

Early life and personal life

Beatty was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on April 29, 1952 to Arthur and Ruth Beatty. He graduated from South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974, and University of South Carolina with a Juris Doctor degree in 1979. ^[2] Beatty married Angela D. Chestnut on February 23, 1985. They have three children.^[2]

Political career

Beatty served as a member of the Spartanburg city council from 1988 to 1990, and served two terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1991 to 1994 representing the 31st district.^[2]

Judicial career

South Carolina Supreme Court

Beatty was elected to a seat on the South Carolina Supreme Court on May 23, 2007, to replace Justice E. C. Burnett, III.^[3] He became the court's Chief Justice on January 1, 2017 after being elected to fill the vacancy caused by the mandatory retirement of Chief Justice Costa M. Pleicones.

Expired nomination to federal district court under Obama

On February 25, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Beatty to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, to the seat vacated by Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, who assumed senior status on October 3, 2013.^[4] On June 21, 2016, a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was held on his nomination.^[5] On July 14, 2016, his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.^[6] His nomination expired on January 3, 2017, with the end of the 114th Congress.

Retirement

In 2024, Beatty turned 72 years old, which is the mandatory retirement age for judges in South Carolina. As a result, he retired on July 31, 2024, and will be replaced as Chief Justice by Judge John W. Kittredge. On June 5, 2024, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Letitia Verdin to replace Kittredge; she was the only candidate still running for Kittredge's seat after two others had dropped out. Beatty's replacement by Verdin changes the South Carolina Supreme Court from having only male judges to having only white judges.^[7]^[8]

References

^ "Biography". Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
^ "Judge Don Beatty, '74, elected to the Supreme Court of South Carolina". South Carolina State University. May 24, 2007. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
^ ""Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" White House, February 25, 2016". Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
^ "Nominations for June 21, 2016, Senate Judiciary Committee". Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 14, 2016, Senate Judiciary Committee" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
^ Underwood, Tina (2024-06-11). "Furman alumna Verdin '92 elected to SC Supreme Court". Furman University. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
^ "South Carolina is trading its all-male Supreme Court for an all-white one". Associated Press. 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

Legal offices
Preceded by E. C. Burnett III	Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court 2007–2016	Succeeded by George C. James
Preceded by Costa M. Pleicones	Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court 2017–2024	Succeeded by John W. Kittredge

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[1] "Biography". Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.

[:0-2] "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-26.

[3] "Judge Don Beatty, '74, elected to the Supreme Court of South Carolina". South Carolina State University. May 24, 2007. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.

[4] ""Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" White House, February 25, 2016". Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2023.

[5] "Nominations for June 21, 2016, Senate Judiciary Committee". Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2023.

[6] "Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 14, 2016, Senate Judiciary Committee" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2023.

[7] Underwood, Tina (2024-06-11). "Furman alumna Verdin '92 elected to SC Supreme Court". Furman University. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

[8] "South Carolina is trading its all-male Supreme Court for an all-white one". Associated Press. 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

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