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Public service should be about results, not rhetoric. During my time in the South Carolina House, my focus has remained the same: passing legislation that protects families, strengthens our economy, and reflects the values of the people I represent.
That includes working on legislation to increase transparency, strengthen safeguards for minors online, and ensure that companies profiting from these platforms take seriously their responsibility to protect children—not exploit them.
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I’m also proud of my work on legislation that promotes economic growth and legal certainty for South Carolina businesses. Clear rules, predictable outcomes, and a fair legal climate matter—not just to employers, but to workers and families whose livelihoods depend on a strong economy.
And I remain proud to have supported the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. That vote reflected a deeply held belief shared by many South Carolinians: that unborn children deserve protection once a heartbeat can be detected. It was a values-driven decision rooted in respect for life, not political calculation.
Recently, I have received criticism about my professional background and my record as a legislator, so let me be clear. I am not a trial attorney. I am a real estate and business lawyer. My work involves transactions, contracts, and property matters – not trial work. I rarely appear before circuit or appellate judges, and I do not make a living litigating cases in courtrooms affected by judicial appointments made by the General Assembly. I have never served on the committee that screens judges (JMSC). That distinction matters, and it underscores the independence I bring to my legislative role.
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RELATED | ‘SOUTH CAROLINA ISN’T RUN BY REPUBLICANS’
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As a member of the S.C. House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, I strive to be a steady, thoughtful voice – someone who studies the details, listens to stakeholders, and helps move complex legislation across the finish line for the betterment of our State. I’m less interested in press hits than I am in durable policy that serves South Carolina well.
A recent critic, who is new to the Republican Party, submitted a piece to this website questioning my leadership at Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Voters are smart enough to tell the difference between conviction and convenience—and they understand that a tiger doesn’t change its stripes simply because the political winds shift.
I’ll continue doing what I’ve always done: promoting transparency, focusing on results, standing on principle, and working every day to protect families, support businesses, and uphold the values that matter to South Carolinians.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Weston J. Newton represents District 120 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He is chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee.
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2 comments
A hit dog hollers
Bahahahaha. A real RINO who thinks he works for the citizens of SC. Real estate attorney, IE a legislator pushing the over development and crowding of SC to build a bigger tax base.