South Carolina Supreme Court race down to one candidate after second judge withdraws

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- South Carolina’s highest court is poised to have a woman on the bench again.

Court of Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin is set to become the state’s next Supreme Court justice after her only remaining opponent in the race, Court of Appeals Judge Blake Hewitt, withdrew Thursday.

His exit comes just days after Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman, the only Black candidate in the race, dropped out.

Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene at the Statehouse on June 5 to hold the election for Justice John Kittredge’s seat.

Kittredge was elected in March to replace Chief Justice Don Beatty, the only Black justice on the high court, who is retiring after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72.

Verdin’s expected election means the court will no longer be all-male, but it will be made up entirely of white Justices for the first time in nearly two decades.

Verdin has served as a prosecutor, resident family court judge, and circuit court judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers Greenville and Pickens counties. In 2023, she was elected to a seat on the South Carolina Court of Appeals. She also previously worked as an assistant solicitor in the 8th Circuit.

South Carolina is one of only two states that appoint its judges through the legislature.