Judiciary committee gives favorable report to Horry County solicitor nominee Jimmy Arthur Richardson II

Jimmy Arthur Richardson II was sworn in and received a favorable report from the Senate Judiciary Committee during a screening on the committee’s opening calendar.

Richardson, introduced by a committee member and sworn by the chair, told the panel he has worked in the Horry County solicitor’s office for years and described local practices his office follows. Attorney JJ Gentry delivered Richardson’s biographical summary, citing a 1997 JD and a long record in the Horry County solicitor’s office; Gentry told the committee a background check showed no negative law‑enforcement or tax records and no apparent financial conflicts.

Several senators asked Richardson about court processes and case‑management practices. Richardson said his office participates in a case‑management order and aims to resolve cases quickly: “we are always striving for the goal of having cases settled within 6 months or 180 days,” he said. He described a practice of handling many routine pleas at the jail on Mondays to avoid daily prisoner transports — a practice he said allows the office to process as many as 45–60 pleas in a day for general‑sessions matters.

Senators also asked about specialty programs. Richardson called his circuit’s drug court “probably the best program” and described a study of the first 100 participants in which he said the group entered with about 1,100 prior felonies and since graduation had recorded one felony among them.

Committee members moved and seconded a favorable report on Richardson’s confirmation. The chair announced the committee’s action would be recorded as unanimous and the nomination sent to the Senate desk for consideration by the full Senate.

Richardson told the committee he is committed to serving a full term and thanked members for the opportunity to appear. The committee will transmit its recommendation to the Senate; no final floor confirmation was recorded at the committee hearing.