Prosecutor becomes the first female circuit court judge elected in York County
York County prosecutor Misti Shelton made history Wednesday when the South Carolina legislature elected her to be a 16th Circuit judge.
Rock Hill’s Shelton is the first-ever woman to be chosen to a circuit court judge judgeship in York County. The role handles felony jury trials, criminal sentencing, and bail hearings. The 16th Judicial Circuit covers York and Union counties.
She was the only candidate Wednesday in a vote at the S.C. General Assembly. The other candidate, public defender Melissa Inzerillo, dropped out last week, which was reported exclusively by The Herald.
Inzerillo ran unopposed for the job in 2025 but was not elected then after many Republicans, who have a huge majority in the legislature, refused to support her.
State senators and representatives in both chambers voted for Shelton on Wednesday afternoon by acclimation, without requiring a counting of individual votes.
State Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, used to be York County’s top prosecutor before his election to the legislature. He worked with Shelton in both the solicitor’s office and in private practice. He said Shelton and Inzerillo ran for the seat with “integrity and energy.”
“I think Misti’s ultimate win is a testament to her stellar reputation on both sides of the courtroom,” Pope told The Herald after the election Wednesday. “She will make an exceptional judge.”
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.
The 16th Judicial Circuit 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: Honored to serve her community
Shelton, married with two children, is a native of the small town of Lockhart in Union County. She has been a prosecutor in the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s office for 20 years, and also practiced as a defense attorney early in her career.
The state’s judicial commission said after November 2025 public hearings that she was qualified under all categories such as knowledge, temperament and more to be a judge, and had shown dedication to the judicial system. Several lawyers wrote recommendations to lawmakers about her integrity and experience.
Shelton told The Herald after Wednesday’s election she will serve the public fairly and impartially.
“I am very grateful for the support of my community, our delegation, and my friends and family,” she said. “I am a lifelong resident of the 16th Circuit and I am honored to serve as your next judge.”
Circuit court judges: The public eye is on them
Circuit judges handle criminal jury trials, guilty pleas and sentencing. They also set bail in criminal cases before trials. Only a circuit judge can set bail for the most serious violent crimes.
Decisions about sentencing and whether someone is freed on bail after arrest often come under public scrutiny during cases involving repeat offenders, guns, violence and teenage crime.
Circuit judges also handle civil lawsuits over $10,000.
York County has a master-in-equity judge, which is a division of the circuit court. That seat, currently held by Teasa Weaver, is appointed by the governor and not elected by the legislature. The master-in-equity handles non-jury civil matters .
What happens now?
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.
Shelton will leave the prosecutor’s office and go through months of judicial training before taking the bench. She will likely have a formal oath of office ceremony at the Moss Justice Center courthouse in York in the coming months.
