Costa M. Pleicones

Costa Pleicones (born February 29, 1944) is an American jurist who is the Chief Justice of South Carolina. He has served on the court since being elected in February 2000 to replace Justice Toal (who assumed the chief justice position at that time).^[1] He was sworn in on March 29, 2000.^[2] Before being elected to the court, his judicial experience included serving on the courts for the city of Columbia and as a Circuit Court Judge. On May 27, 2015, Justice Pleicones was elected to replace Chief Justice Jean Toal. His term began January 1, 2016, and his investiture as Chief Justice of South Carolina took place on January 7, 2016.^[3]

Justice Pleicones was born in Greenville and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Wofford College and graduated with a degree in English in 1965. Prior to his election to the South Carolina judiciary Pleicones was active for more than thirty years in the United States Army Reserve where he served as an officer in the Judge Advocate's General Corps. The justice has also worked in private practice and as a public defender for Richland County.

A frequent lecturer, Costa Pleicones has been called upon by many professional organizations including CLE programs by the South Carolina Bar. He presently serves as a member of the Wofford College Board of Trustees.

Personal Life

Pleicones was born in the state of South Carolina to Lecha and Mike Pleicones. ^[4] In his childhood, he was friends with his predecessor Justice Jean Toal. ^[5] He is of Greek descent and is Greek Orthodox. Pleicones is married with two children. ^[6]

References

Sources

• Pleicones, Costa M. (1995). Courtroom practice (Bridge the gap). South Carolina Bar, Continuing Legal Education.
• Edgar, Walter (1998). South Carolina: A History. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1-57003-255-6.
• South Carolina. Supreme Court (2009). Reports of Cases Heard and Determined by the Supreme Court of South Carolina (109). General Books LLC. ISBN 1-150-03834-9.
• Justice Costa M. Pleicones - South Carolina SUPREME COURT

Current statewide political officials of South Carolina
U.S. Senators	Lindsey Graham Tim Scott
State government	Nikki Haley, Governor Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor Mark Hammond, Secretary of State Alan Wilson, Attorney General Curtis Loftis, Treasurer
Senate	John Courson, President pro tempore Harvey Peeler, Majority Leader John Land, Minority Leader
House	Jay Lucas, Speaker Tommy Pope, Speaker pro tempore Kenny Bingham, Majority Leader Harry Ott, Minority Leader
Supreme Court	Costa Pleicones, Chief Justice Donald Beatty, Justice John Kittredge, Justice Kaye Hearn, Justice John Few, Justice