--- title: "Clifton Newman | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/clifton-newman-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Clifton Newman South Carolina Circuit Court ยท Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court - State: South Carolina - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: recalled - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - He held the role of Assistant Solicitor for Williamsburg County for over 16 years and was managing partner of Newman & Sabb, P.A., before being elected to the South Carolina Circuit Court by the General Assembly on May 24, 2000. ### Education ### Additional information - He was reelected multiple times and retired in December 2023 - He returned to South Carolina in 1982, establishing a private practice in Columbia and Manning, later relocating to Kingstree. - Began his legal career in Cleveland, Ohio, forming the partnership Belcher & Newman in 1976. - Date of birth: 1951-11-07 - Judge Newman presided over several high-profile trials, including the cases of Michael Slager, Nathaniel Rowland, Mikal Mahdi, and Alex Murdaugh. - After retiring, Newman joined JAMS, a private arbitration and mediation organization, where he continues to handle complex disputes. - obtained his Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law, where he was chief justice of the student court and worked for the Legal Aid Society - He also teaches trial advocacy at the University of South Carolina and is involved in legal technology initiatives, such as LawLens, which supports research for police officers, judges, and lawyers - Board of Education, he pursued a legal career. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording broadcasting photography Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 generally prohibits courtroom broadcasting, televising, recording, and photography unless an exception or presiding-judge authorization applies. Evidence excerpt: the broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court or recesses between sessions is prohibited [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic evidence presentation Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 permits the presiding judge to authorize electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation, record preservation, or judicial administration. Evidence excerpt: A presiding judge may authorize the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### media coverage notice Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 605 requires media representatives to give reasonable notice to the presiding judge when requesting courtroom coverage. Evidence excerpt: Media representatives must give reasonable notice to the presiding judge of a request to cover a proceeding. [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote communication technology Scope: statewide South Carolina Rule 612 authorizes the Supreme Court to provide by order for courts to use remote communication technology for proceedings. Evidence excerpt: the Supreme Court of South Carolina may provide for the use of remote communication technology by the courts of this State to conduct proceedings [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### virtual and in person recording Scope: statewide South Carolina's statewide order prohibits photographing, recording, or streaming live, virtual, or broadcasted court proceedings unless the presiding judge specifically authorizes it under Rule 605. Evidence excerpt: taking still photographs, recording (visual or audio), or streaming of any live, virtual, or subsequently broadcasted court proceeding is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized by the presiding judge pursuant to Rule 605 [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/clifton-newman/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/clifton-newman/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/clifton-newman/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 605: Broadcasting, Televising, Recording or Photographing Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-605/) - [South Carolina Appellate Court Rule 612: Use of Remote Communication Technology](https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-612/) - [Supreme Court of South Carolina Order: Recording of In-Person or Virtual Court Proceedings](https://www.sccourts.org/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2020-09-28-01) - [Wikidata: Clifton Newman](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116569864) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/clifton-newman-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/clifton-newman-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-sc", "name": "Clifton Newman | KnowJudges", "description": "Clifton Newman, South Carolina Circuit Court. 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