Judiciary committee gives favorable report to Jimmy Arthur Richardson for 15th-circuit solicitor

The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to gubernatorial appointee Jimmy Arthur Richardson after a public screening and question-and-answer session.

Richardson, who the committee record shows was appointed to fill the 15th judicial circuit solicitor post, took an oath and provided his full name and Conway address for the record. Committee staff attorney JJ Gentry summarized Richardson’s résumé, including a B.A. in government and international studies from the University of South Carolina Coastal and a J.D. from Regent University Law School, and noted the background checks provided no adverse information.

In response to senators’ questions about court administration, Richardson said his Horry and Georgetown County offices have used case‑management practices and drug court programs for years. He cited the office’s internal study of the first 100 people who entered its drug court program: “Out of those 100, they averaged 11 felonies apiece going in… that 1st group, we’ve had 1 felony since they’ve graduated. So it went from 1,100 to 1.”

Senators praised Richardson’s experience and local ties. Committee member (speaker 2) moved approval of the appointment; the motion was seconded and the committee recorded an apparent unanimous favorable report (the record notes a count of 21 in favor, none opposed). The committee will transmit the nomination to the Senate desk; the record states the nomination will remain on the desk for three days before floor consideration.

The record presented Richardson as committed to serving a full term and to cooperating with Senate staff on the confirmation paperwork. The committee’s proceedings and vote provide a favorable committee recommendation but do not constitute final confirmation, which must occur on the full Senate floor.