Judge James E. Lockemy

The retired Honorable Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, James E. Lockemy, has joined the Firm’s Myrtle Beach Office where he focuses his practice in Alternative Dispute Resolution and appellate law. With an illustrious career spanning over four decades, Judge Lockemy brings unparalleled experience to his private practice at Richardson Plowden. 

Prior to joining Richardson Plowden, Judge Lockemy served as a South Carolina Circuit Court Judge for 18 years, presiding over a wide array of complex legal matters. He then served a seven-year tenure as Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, where he became the first Native American to hold the position. His experience leading the courtroom distinguishes him as a seasoned legal practitioner with a keen insight into the intricacies of the judicial process.

In addition to his judicial roles, Judge Lockemy’s career includes service in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he gained invaluable experience in legislative affairs and policy-making. He worked in Washington, D.C. for two years as a legislative assistant to Senator Strom Thurmond and as Sub-Committee Minority Counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. 

In addition to his legal experience, Judge Lockemy has also served as an adjunct professor of American Legal History at the University of South Carolina School of Law. He has also served more than 43 years in the military, which included an active-duty tour in war-torn Kosovo, and 26 years in the South Carolina National Guard. 

Judge Lockemy attended The Citadel and earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Pembroke State University in 1971. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1974 and his Master’s Degree in History from The Citadel in 2012. In 2016, he became a Ph.D. Candidate in History at the University of South Carolina. 

Judge Lockemy retired from the U.S. Army as a full Colonel, and then later as a Major General in the South Carolina Military Department. He is an active member in his local community in Dillon, S.C.

Pro Bono/Professional/Community Involvement

• Member of the Executive Council and Past President of the National Guard Association of South Carolina
• Served as the President of the South Carolina Circuit Court Judges’ Association
• Active in the South Carolina Bar
  • -Member of the Memory Hold the Door Committee
  • -Executive Council of the Senior Lawyer’s Division
  • -Member Law Related Education Committee and Mock Trial Judge
  • Member and Presenter, South Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society
• Active in the American Bar Association
  • Member of Torts, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee)
  • Served as Chair, Appellate Judges Conference
  • Immediate Past Judicial Member, ABA Board of Governors
  • Chair-Elect Judicial Division
  • Presidential Appointee, Judicial Advisory Committee of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
• Member, Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina—Pembroke
• Chair, Dillon County 250^th Commission celebrating South Carolina’s Role in Winning Independence for the United States of America

Awards, Honors, Accolades

• Recipient of 17 military awards, including The Legion of Merit by the U.S. Army
• Dillon County Citizen of the Year and Veteran of the Year
• Recipient, the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s Highest Civilian Honor given by South Carolina’s Governor