- I. DeQuincey Newman United Methodist Church will celebrate Men’s Day on Sunday, August 25 2024 at 10 a.m. The guest speaer will be Clifton Newman, “America’s Judge.”
Clifton Newman was born and raised in Williamsburg County amidst the tobacco and cotton fields of rural South Carolina. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio to attend college the day after delivering his high school Valedictory address at Williamsburg County Training School in Greeleyville. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University and a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland State University College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced law in Cleveland for six years before returning to South Carolina, establishing a law practice, and serving as an Assistant Solicitor.
After 24 years as a practicing attorney, the South Carolina General Assembly unanimously elected him to the Circuit Court in 2000.
As a judge, he has presided in each of the forty-six counties of the state and over numerous high-profile cases including: The Estate of The Godfather of Soul – James Brown; The State of South Carolina v. Michael Slager, a police shooting in Charleston County; The State of South Carolina v. Nathaniel Row-
land, known as the “Fake Uber” case; and most recently, The State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh.
Dedicated to molding and nurturing young lawyers, he teaches Trial Advocacy at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. His leadership in the law has been recognized locally and nationally.
Among the many awards and honors he has received are: The Order of The Palmetto, Office of the Governor of South Carolina; Honorary Diplomate, The American
Board of Trial Advocates; a Hall of Fame Inductee, Cleveland State University College of Law; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Lifetime Achievement Award; The Matthew J. Perry Civility Award; The Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Trailblazer Award; an Honorary Doctor of Laws, South Carolina State University; an Honorary Doctor of Public Service, Coastal Carolina University; and an Honorary Doctor of Laws, The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
A charter member of I.
