The Hon. Jean H. Toal

Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court Hon. Jean H. Toal (1943-), has always has been a pioneer and superior leader. The 1961 graduate of Dreher High School was the leading high school debater in the state. In 1988 Toal became the first woman, the first native Columbian and the first Roman Catholic to serve on the South Carolina Supreme Court. In 2000 she was chosen chief justice of the court, filling the unexpired term of her predecessor. In 2004 she was re-elected for a 10 year term.

She received her law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1968. She maintained a successful practice as a lawyer until she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1975, where she chaired the freshman caucus. She was the first woman to hold the position.

During her years as a representative for Richland county, Toal served as chair of the House Rules Committee and chair of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. She was a key leader in floor legislation dealing with constitutional law, re-structuring of the judicial system and local government, budgets, utilities regulation, workmen’s compensation and banking and finance.

Toal has been recognized for her efforts to effectively and efficiently integrate technology into the court system. The chief justice has received numerous honors and awards including honorary doctorates from many of the major universities and colleges in the state. One of her most prestigious awards is the Margaret Brent Award from the American Bar Association. The award is named for the first female lawyer in the United States.

She is co-author of the book “Appellate Practice in South Carolina.”