A York County first: Misti Shelton sworn in as first elected female circuit judge
Misti Shelton spent more than 20 years as a prosecutor, public defender and private lawyer in York County’s courtrooms. Now she’s in charge of the courtroom after being sworn in as the county’s first-ever female Circuit Court Judge.
Shelton, 49, told a packed courtroom Friday at the Moss Justice Center in York she would be fair to all who appear in front of her. She said York County has a robust solicitor’s office that prosecutes cases, and a strong defense bar of committed public defenders and private lawyers who advocate for people accused of crimes.
For more than two decades she tried cases. Now, she’ll referee others doing the same as the first woman to sit on the bench.
The 16th Judicial Circuit, containing York and Union counties, has two resident circuit court judges. The seat Shelton won came open when Judge Dan Hall retired in 2025. The other seat is held by Bill McKinnon. That seat is not up for election this year.
Shelton was born and raised in tiny Lockhart in Union County before attending Winthrop University and the University of South Carolina law school. She is undaunted at being the first woman to serve in the Circuit Court judge job in York County.
“No one ever told me I couldn’t do something,” Shelton told the crowd before she received a standing ovation from all in the standing-room only courtroom.
The S.C. General Assembly selected Shelton in March. She won an uncontested election after the other candidate dropped out days before the election.
Voters don’t choose judges in South Carolina like they do in 48 states. The state legislature chooses after a review by a legislative screening commission, made up of legislators and other lawyers from around the state. Virginia is the only other state in which state legislators pick judges.
South Carolina circuit court judges have statewide jurisdiction and often travel to other counties. Circuit judges serve six-year terms and make $221,925 per year.
Judges crucial in trials, pleas, and bail
Circuit judges handle criminal trials, guilty pleas and sentencing. They also set bail in criminal cases. Only a circuit judge can set bail for the most serious violent crimes, such as murder.
Those rulings about sentencing and whether someone is freed on bail after arrest are often scrutinized by the public because courts are open in South Carolina and those rulings are public record.
And during trials, judges make crucial decisions about what evidence can be admitted.
Circuit judges also handle civil lawsuits over $10,000 and make rulings on evidence that can be allowed in those cases before trials or settlements.
Peers: Shelton ready for the job
Defense lawyer Leland Greeley, one of York County’s most experienced lawyers, made sure the crowd knew that Shelton was the first woman to serve in the bench. He said, “the law is the foundation of our freedom.”
B.J. Barrowclough, York County public defender, said Shelton has shown through her experience she’s a fair but tough lawyer and ready to handle difficult courtroom decisions. He praised her “tremendous work ethic” and fair approach to every case.
Shelton spent most of the past two decades as a prosecutor working for 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett. Brackett praised her demeanor, experience and fairness, saying Shelton will make a superb judge.
Hall swore Shelton in while her husband, prosecutor Matthew Shelton, held the Bible. Hall told the crown that Shelton will “figure out who you are and how to do that job,” as a judge. Hall, who handled more than 10,000 guilty pleas in his career before retirement, said each case is important to the people involved in it, as well as the community and public.
“You are serving the people,” Hall told Shelton.
