--- title: "John W. Kittredge | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-w-kittredge-chief-justice-supreme-court-of-south-carolina-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # John W. Kittredge Supreme Court of South Carolina · Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina - State: South Carolina - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of South Carolina, 2008-present - 2024 – Appointed Chief Justice by the South Carolina General Assembly; invested July 31, 2024 - The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, a position he assumed on July 31, 2024, succeeding Donald W. Beatty - 2008 – Elected Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court (served until 2024) - Began as a law clerk to Hon ### Education - University of South Carolina School of Law ### Additional information - He has also chaired the Commission on the Profession since 2008 - Practitioner, 2007-2007 - Date of birth: 1956-09-28 - William W. Wilkins, Jr., then practiced law in Wilkins, Nelson and Kittredge - He has been admitted to the South Carolina Bar and to multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court - Kittredge has served on the Governor’s Committee on Crime and Delinquency, Governor’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, Greenville Technical College Foundation (Vice-President), City of Greenville Civil Service Commission (Chairman), Greenville County Crime Stoppers (President), and the Board of Directors of Child Evangelism Fellowship - His academic honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Coif, and Wig and Robe - Birth place: Greenville ## 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/supreme-court/justices/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/supreme-court/justices/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/supreme-court/justices/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5651/john-w-kittredge/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5651/john-w-kittredge/) - [Wikidata: John W. Kittredge](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16730903) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-w-kittredge-chief-justice-supreme-court-of-south-carolina-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-w-kittredge-chief-justice-supreme-court-of-south-carolina-sc", "name": "John W. Kittredge | KnowJudges", "description": "John W. Kittredge, Supreme Court of South Carolina. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-22", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-w-kittredge-chief-justice-supreme-court-of-south-carolina-sc#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-w-kittredge-chief-justice-supreme-court-of-south-carolina-sc#judge", "name": "John W. 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