Powerful Columbia Lawyer Mulls Attorney General Bid
The Chairman of the Board at one of South Carolina’s largest, most influential law firms is strongly considering mounting a campaign for S.C. Attorney General, sources tell FITS.
W. Leighton Lord III – who has led the law firm of Nexsen Pruet for four years – has called several Palmetto political insiders to express his interest in the position. An avid triathlete and conservationist, Lord is one of the top economic development litigators in the state.
And while name (and his curly locks) come off as straight outta’ South-of-Broad Charleston, S.C. – Lord was actually born in Hawaii and grew up in Delaware as a self-described “army brat.” You can read more about Lord in this puff piece published earlier this summer by Midlands Biz.
“I was the type of person growing up that could never figure out what I wanted to do,” Lord told the publication. “I had a lot of different interests so my philosophy was to try and eliminate the jobs that I did not want to do.”
Hmmm. Apparently, that process of elimination has led him to the S.C. Attorney General’s office.
The magazine also got an interesting answer from Lord when it asked him to describe his leadership style.
“Probably more ’slow march’ than ‘bold stroke …’” he said. “Like the tortoise, if you keep at it, you will win the race.”
As Chairman of the Board at Nexsen Pruet, Lord is “responsible for shaping the firm’s strategy and vision.” Prior to coming to Columbia, S.C., Lord practiced law in Delaware. He also served for three years as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Who’s Lord up against?
The only announced candidate in the race is Alan Wilson, son of the infamous “you lie” Congressman Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson.
Columbia prosecutor Robert Bolchoz is being encouraged to run, but has not formally announced his candidacy.
Until earlier this year, Upstate solicitor Trey Gowdy was considered a prime candidate for Attorney General, but then he had a surprise change of heart and decided to run against Bob Inglis for South Carolina’s Fourth Congressional District seat.
Lord is reportedly being touted as the “business community’s” candidate for Attorney General, which in South Carolina means he could very well be “pink right down to (his) underwear.”
We’ll see …
Comments
By Delaware Aristocracy on September 20th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Well he certainly looks qualified to be the Attorney General. I am sure taking the deposition of a mobster in the early 90’s combined with having some photo ops done in a poppy field in the 90’s makes you qualified???? Why would a real estate lawyer want to be attorney general?
Or maybe he is just a bored rich guy who wants some power. Who is his daddy in law???? Oh, yeah, former head of Colonial Life.
Here is a guy WITH ZERO PROSECUTION experience vying for the State’s top prosecutor’s job! Hey, once you get your Tribuddies into double digits, let us know. COME ONE SIC WILLIE – don’t give this guy a pass. He has no qualifications other than being a “Richy Rich” who wants to steal the election
By fitsnews on September 20th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
DA-
Give him a pass? RINO John Rainey is out pimping this guy … and you think we’re going to give him a pass?
Please … any connection to John Rainey is an AUTOMATIC pop, and Leighton Lord will get his.
-FITS
By Henry on September 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I know this guy well.
He is an egomaniac not worthy of this position.
He is in love with himself.
By Interloper on September 20th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Lord has to better than baby bigot Alan Wilson, who is seeking to live off the government his whole life as his daddy has done.
By Outside Looking In on September 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
From the outside looking in, maybe Mr. Lord isn’t ‘worthy’. After all, demonstrating success in the private sector probably doesn’t translate into ‘politics as usual’ for SC (you guys don’t need a break from the headlines, seriously… no lie). But then, maybe that’s the point behind new leadership?
By Delaware Aristocracy on September 20th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
What qualifies you to be the state’s top prosecutor? How about having prosecuted some actual criminal cases and put some bad guys in jail. How many has “Lord Leighton” put away in criminal court? I await your response to that one.
Say what you want about Alan Wilson, but last time I checked, he has been in the courtroom and prosecuted “actual criminals.” Not only that, but I think he gave up the luxuries of home to fight for our country overseas on the frontlines. Maybe “Lord Leigton” should consider State Treasurer or Governor if he is the “friend of the business community.” But for me, I want an AG who has experience in criminal court putting bad guys in jail.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on September 21st, 2009 at 8:52 am
To figure out this guy, all you have to do is look at the hair. He’s got to be an asshole. The fact that he’s never prosecuted but he still fancies himself qualified also suggests profound arrogance.
By Darth on September 21st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hang, why not run David Schwacke? He’s safe from being outed by Linda Ketner.
By AI on September 21st, 2009 at 11:55 am
Interloper,
You obviously know little, if anything, about Alan Wilson. He’s a war hero, an experienced prosecutor, and a dedicated family man. Calling him a bigot is inflammatory and ridiculous, not to mention false.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on September 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
War hero? Bwahahahahahahahahah! A racist or bigot? I doubt it. But a war hero? Bwahahahahahahahahah!
By RedBank Bar on September 21st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
A “war hero”? He didn’t get shot if that’s what you mean.
The toughest case he ever prosecuted in trial was probably a DUI 2nd.
He’s pleasant enough for someone who took two attempts to pass the SC Bar, not known for being the toughest in the country.
By Sunnyvaleboy on September 21st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
This guy looks like a bagger….carpet and tea.
By 5Day on September 21st, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The only thing Alan Wilson has going for him is that he isn’t blood related to Joe Wilson.
By S.C. Prosecutor on September 21st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Try again, Red Bank:
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070613/NEWS/706130330
18 years for a nasty old child molester in a “he said, she said” sexual abuse case, one of the toughest kinds of criminal cases to prosecute. This is just one example of many in Alan Wilson’s career as a prosecutor.
And if successfully leading a convoy of American solders through enemy territory while under fire is not the type of stuff that makes a person heroic, I don’t know what is.
FITS- if you oppose Alan’s run for AG, you may want to make your case on the merits instead of simply associating him with Joe.
By AI on September 21st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
S.C. Prosecutor covered it pretty well. If you don’t think Alan is the right candidate, don’t vote for him. But please get your facts straight.
By Red Bank Bar on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
“One of many” List ‘em. I’d be amazed if he’s had as many as five first chair trials.
Child molester cases are some of the easiest to prosecute. The Supreme Court has eviserated Lyle evidence limitations to make sex cases some of the easiest for prosecutors.
By Reality Check on September 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Seems to me that being the head of one of the state’s biggest private law firms is pretty good training for running the Attorney General’s office. Managing a bunch of high-priced lawyers is no easy task, so if Lord can do that, he should be a good AG. The job is about managing people and setting priorities. Someone who has done well in the private sector has a lot to offer.
By RedBank Bar on September 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Lord married Gayle Averett’s daughter. He’s just another pretty face with no substance.
He “manages” high-priced lawyers by telling them they can’t have a part-time secretary in addition to their full-time secretary. He tells them they can’t hire a law clerk for research purposes. He tells them they have to bill 2000 hours a year or else. He hires the illegal aliens they use to clean their offices.
By Snake Doctor on September 24th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Wow, you frat-boy atty guys are vicious here in South Cakalacky. I have always wondered why you folks pile on to people who ain’t from around here. Do you resent the fact that Mr. Lord got his sheepskin from somewhere other than Gamecock U? And why the headline: “Powerful Columbia Atty…” Powerful sounds like prominent. How do you get to be powerful in real estate? The guy is powerful on the Tri-circuit. Sounds like one of you guys might have gotten Lance Armstronged by Mr. Lord. A little jealously here? He’s got the biggest house on the block, the number one spot in the Firm, has never had to cash a paycheck, and he doesn’t have to look like the rest of the Partners. Oh, how disgusting! F. Scott Fitzgerald said: “The rich are very different from me and you…” He was right. Somehow when your whole day is spent by underlings sucking-up to you your chin rests at a higher level. Just look at his cuz, Kirkman–two peas in a pod. I say they are both perfect for the job. They are without a doubt the best that money can buy. There are no more Harry Trumans around. Someone once asked President Truman if hadn’t won the White House what he would have done. He replied that he would have probably ended up playing a piano in a whorehouse!