Letitia Hamilton Verdin (born 1970) is an Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Letitia Verdin
Verdin following her election to the Supreme Court by the General Assembly, 2024
Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
Assumed office
July 31, 2024
Preceded byJohn W. Kittredge
Personal details
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Seneca, South Carolina, U.S.
EducationFurman University (BS)
University of South Carolina (JD)

Education and personal life

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Verdin was born in Seneca, South Carolina to Angela and Harry Hamilton.[1] She graduated in 1988 as valedictorian from Seneca Senior High School.[2][3] She received a Bachelor of Science from Furman University in 1992 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1997.[4] Verdin is married to attorney, Charles "Chuck" Verdin.[5][4]

Career

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After graduating law school, Verdin worked as an assistant solicitor in SC's 8th judicial circuit while also working in a private law firm.[4]

In 2008 the state's General Assembly elected Verdin to fill the vacancy on the thirteenth circuit family court created by the elevation of Judge Aphrodite Konduros to the state's Court of Appeals.[6]

In 2010, she was elected to replace the vacancy on the SC Circuit Court created by John Cannon Few's elevation to Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.[7]

In 2023, Verdin was elected to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals.[4][1]

After the withdrawal of two other judges, Verdin was the sole candidate to fill the upcoming vacancy on the South Carolina Supreme Court caused by the elevation of Justice John W. Kittredge to Chief Justice.[8] On June 5, 2024, Verdin was elected 152-0 by the South Carolina General Assembly to the Supreme Court.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mangrum, Dick (2023-02-10). "A Seneca "daughter" climbs the judicial ladder". 101.7 WGOG. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  2. ^ "To the Class of '88 (Seneca)". Anderson Independent Mail. June 2, 1998. p. 1C. Retrieved June 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "1988 high school graduation ceremony, top student roundup (Oconee County, Seneca High School)". The Greenville News. May 29, 1998. p. 2B. Retrieved June 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "SC Judicial Department". www.sccourts.org. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  5. ^ "Weddings Lala Letitia Hamilton & Charles Smith Verdin IV". The Greenville News. August 17, 1997. p. 5D. Retrieved May 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Smith, Tim (May 22, 2008). "Upstate judges defeated in court races". The Greenville News. pp. 2A. Retrieved May 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Woman with local ties elected to be 13th Circuit court judge". The Greenville News. February 4, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bustos, Joseph (May 30, 2024). "SC Supreme Court will have a woman justice again after last year's all-male abortion decision". The State. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Collins, Jeffrey (June 5, 2024). "South Carolina is trading its all-male Supreme Court for an all-white one". WLTX-TV. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
2024–present
Incumbent