A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Murray State University, and the University of South Carolina School of Law, Tonnya K. Kohn is an attorney, court executive, and legal educator whose career spans judicial administration, law, and media. From 2017 to 2024, she served as State Court Administrator for the South Carolina Judicial Branch, overseeing statewide court operations under the Chief Justice and directing six administrative divisions: Court Education, Fiscal Services, Public Information, Court Services, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Her tenure was marked by future-facing initiatives, including the implementation of digital court reporting, virtual courtrooms, automated judge scheduling, and the launch of the Judicial Branch’s first Court Education Division and Public Information Office. She also led the development of a redesigned Judicial Branch website and introduced electronic sentencing sheets and text notifications for litigants, modernizing access to justice and improving operational efficiency.
Ms. Kohn’s earlier legal experience includes service as a Staff Attorney to the Judicial Branch, judicial law clerk to Circuit Court Judge Clifton B. Newman, and attorney in private practice. Her editorial leadership at The State Media Company and The Virginian-Pilot involved directing newsroom operations during a pivotal era for American journalism. She also worked at the Nashville Banner in Nashville, Tennessee, which is believed to have been one of the first newspapers in the country to launch a webpage, an early signal of her interest in digital innovation and public access.
She has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Conference of State Court Administrators, the South Carolina Commission on Alternate Dispute Resolution, the South Carolina Board of Magistrate and Municipal Judge Certification, and the CCJ-COSCA Blueprint for Racial Justice. From 2020 to 2022, she contributed to the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness and chaired the COSCA Language Access Advisory Committee. Her work has consistently bridged legal, operational, and public-facing domains.
In 2025, Ms. Kohn co-founded the Judicial Branch Education Academy (JBEA), where she now serves as Vice President. Through JBEA, she designs and delivers continuing education programs for judges, attorneys, and court professionals across all court levels. Her curriculum development includes courses on court administration, case management, and emerging court issues. She coordinates faculty, manages course budgets, and oversees JBEA infrastructure. Her instructional work reflects a deep understanding of the court’s evolving needs and a dedication to lifelong learning.