Chief Justice (Ret.) Donald W. Beatty, a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a graduate of South Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina School of Law. After serving as a commissioned officer in the military, he began his legal career in 1979 with the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program, later establishing a private practice in Spartanburg.
Committed to public service, he was elected to Spartanburg City Council and then to the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he served on the Ethics, Medical, Military and Municipal Affairs, and Judiciary Committees, and as Vice-Chairman and Chairman-elect of the Legislative Black Caucus.
In 1995, he was elected to the Circuit Court, elevated to the Court of Appeals in 2003, and became an Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2007. In May 2016, he was elected Chief Justice by the General Assembly and served from January 1, 2017, until his retirement in July 2024.
Chief Justice Beatty's dedication extended beyond the bench. He served on numerous boards and commissions, including Piedmont Legal Services, Access to Justice Commission, and the Sentencing Reform Commission. He was a member of the Conference of Chief Justices Board of Directors, and other national judicial organizations.
He has received many honors, including the Profile in Leadership Award, Living Legend Award, Honorary Doctor of Laws, and the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award. He frequently speaks to youth groups, promoting scholarship and leadership.
Nominated for a federal judgeship by President Barack Obama, he chose instead to serve as South Carolina's Chief Justice, a role he believed offered greater impact for his home state.