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South Carolina governor Henry McMaster has chosen Upstate criminal defense attorney Cindy Crick to succeed Walt Wilkins as solicitor for the S.C. thirteenth judicial circuit – which includes Greenville and Pickens counties.
Wilkins is stepping down after fifteen years on the job – news which was first reported by FITSNews two weeks ago.
McMaster has yet to publicly announce Crick as his selection, but sources familiar with the situation have confirmed the choice to FITSNews. Crick will serve in the role on an interim basis until the S.C. Senate has a chance to take up her confirmation.
At that point, she would hold the office until after the next election – which is scheduled for next November.
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Crick, 53, studied biology as an undergraduate at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia prior to attending law school at the University of South Carolina. After spending eight years as an assistant solicitor in the S.C. seventh judicial circuit (which includes neighboring Spartanburg and Cherokee counties) she served as chief of staff to U.S. congressman Trey Gowdy from 2011-2019.
During her tenure in the seventh circuit, Crick led the office’s Violence Against Women Unit and “gained valuable experience prosecuting cases involving criminal domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, and domestic homicide,” according to her official bio.
Crick volunteered at a shelter for battered women during her undergraduate years, an experience which inspired her to attend law school and go to work as a prosecutor.
Wilkins reportedly urged McMaster to tap his his top deputy, Andrew Culbreath, to the role – but the governor obviously had other ideas. McMaster also declined to choose his son – Columbia attorney Henry D. McMaster Jr. – as a possible precursor to his rumored campaign for attorney general of South Carolina.
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UPDATE |
McMaster has made the appointment official via executive order (.pdf).
Following the publication of the order, Crick issued the following statement on her appointment…
“I want to first express my sincere gratitude to Governor McMaster for his confidence in me and for entrusting me with this position. Over the course of my career, my role as a prosecutor has been the most gratifying, and it is the one of which I am proudest.
I appreciate the incredible responsibility that comes with this appointment. I assure you I will work hard every single day, with visibility and transparency, to carry out my duties ethically and with integrity. It is my goal that the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office serves as the model for the fair administration of justice statewide.
I promise to work alongside the amazing prosecutors and staff in the Greenville and Pickens offices in the pursuit of justice. Strong relationships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners are critical to our success. Equally important are the many organizations who support victims of crime. I will be responsive, accountable, and ready to engage with you to promote our shared mission of creating a safer community.
Most importantly, I will at all times be mindful of who I serve. It is the citizens of Greenville and Pickens Counties to whom I owe my allegiance, and I will not let you down.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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