--- title: "William A. McKinnon | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-a-mckinnon-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-16-sc" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # William A. McKinnon South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 16 · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 16 - State: South Carolina - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - “Bill” McKinnon is the Resident Circuit Judge of South Carolina’s 16th Judicial Circuit, covering York and Union Counties, elected in February 2018 to succeed the retired Hon - focusing on medical malpractice and other plaintiff’s cases, and also representing other attorneys in ODC matters In 2015, he became a part-time assistant solicitor in the Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, then full-time in 2016. - He clerked for then-Chief Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, then for Hon - Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, McKinnon is the son of Halbert H. McKinnon, a retired dentist and U.S. Army Reserve colonel, and Gail T. McKinnon, a retired teacher ### Education - He grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, graduated from Princeton University, and taught middle school math and Latin before earning his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2001. ### Additional information - However, in August 2026, he denied a motion to vacate a stay ordered by Judge Martha M. Rivers in a related Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity lawsuit, citing lack of jurisdiction to alter another judge’s order. - In 2007, he moved to Rock Hill to join McGowan, Hood & Felder - Began private practice at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., then joined Lewis, Babcock & Hawkins in Columbia (2004–2007) handling plaintiff’s and civil defense cases. - William A. - As Resident Circuit Judge, McKinnon presides over cases in York and Union Counties. - Also an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. - He is admitted to the Bars of South Carolina, Washington, D.C., the District of South Carolina, various federal appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court - Birth place: Raleigh, North Carolina ## 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/william-a-mckinnon/) - [Official roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/william-a-mckinnon/) - [South Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/william-a-mckinnon/) - [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) - [Official biography source for William A. McKinnon](https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/circuit-court/judges/william-a-mckinnon) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-a-mckinnon-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-16-sc", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-a-mckinnon-circuit-court-judge-south-carolina-circuit-court-circuit-16-sc", "name": "William A. McKinnon | KnowJudges", "description": "William A. McKinnon, South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 16. 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