Name Organization Speaking At
April Sampson
April Sampson graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1995 and from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1998. She became a member of the South Carolina Bar in November of 1998. Mrs. Sampson began her legal career with Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities where she handled legal matters for those with physical and mental disabilities.
In the summer of 1999, Mrs. Sampson became an Assistant Public Defender with the Richland County Public Defender's Office. She worked there for 6 years and rose to Deputy Chief Public Defender before entering private practice. In private practice, Mrs. Sampson worked for Duff, White, & Turner handling special educations matters and civil litigation for school districts. While working for the Law Office of Richard Beinart, she handled both civil and criminal matters.
In 2003, Mrs. Sampson became an adjunct professor for University of South Carolina in the Department of Criminal Justice, and in 2007, she became an associate professor for South University in the Legal Studies Department.
In 2011, Mrs. Sampson joined the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office, where she worked as an Assistant Solicitor and Team Leader handling the prosecution of defendants charged with major felonies. In January of 2019, she was promoted to Circuit Deputy Solicitor, where, along with handling her own caseload, she assists the Solicitor with managing and overseeing the office and training new assistant solicitors.
During her career, Mrs. Sampson has been a presenter and faculty member for training seminars offered by the National Advocacy Center, the National Criminal Defense College, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Summary Court Judges' Association, the South Carolina Black Lawyers' Association, the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Solicitor's Association, and the South Carolina Prosecution Commission.
She also participates in the South Carolina Bar's Mentoring Program as a mentor and helps coach mock trial teams at Dutch Fork High School and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Ashby Jones and Associates LLC
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Bennett Casto
Bennett graduated from the Charleston School of Law in 2007. Upon graduating from law school, Bennett relocated to Lexington, South Carolina, and joined the Eleventh Circuit Public Defenders Office, which serves the Counties of Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield, and McCormick. In his 14 years of service Bennett eventually rose to the position of Deputy Public Defender. During his time with the Public Defenders Office, his work included the representation of adult and juvenile clients facing some of the most serious possible penalties.
In May of 2021, Bennett accepted a position with the law firm of Mcwhirter, Bellinger and Associates, where he continues his work of helping others whose lives have been impacted by serious personal injury.
His current memberships include the South Carolina Bar, the Lexington County Bar Association, and the South Carolina Association for Justice.
McWhirter Bellinger & Associates, PA
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Brooke Velazquez
Brooke Lewis Velazquez, is the Director of Diversion Programs for the 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. Responsibilities include overseeing the daily operation of the Pre-Trial Intervention program, 11th Circuit Solicitor's Drug Court programs, Alcohol Education Program, Traffic Education Program, Expungement Services, Juvenile Arbitration Program, Family Court Diversion Program, and the Worthless Check Unit.
11th Circuit Solicitor's Office -- Diversion Programs
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Connie Garner
Connie Shockley Garner is employed as a Case Manager II with the Pretrial Intervention Program for the 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. Duties include case management services in the Pretrial Intervention Program Division of the Solicitor's Office, while ensuring compliance with state law and established regulations, policies and procedures. She conducts application and orientation group meetings with program participants; explains each process in accordance with policy.
Mrs. Garner attended the University of South Carolina Aiken where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Upon graduation, she started her professional career with the 11 th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office as a Pretrial Intervention Case Manager I in August of 1990. Mrs. Garner was promoted to Case Manager II where she continues her duties with the Pretrial Intervention program. Her career affiliations include membership with the South Carolina Association of Pretrial Intervention Programs, serving on this board in different positions to include President 1994-96.
Mrs. Garner has been married for 27 years with one teenage son. She is a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church where she is a member of the Pastor Parrish Relations Committee.
11th Circuit Solicitor's Office -- Diversion Programs
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Daniel Goldberg
Mr. Goldberg is the
Deputy Solicitor and Violent Crimes Team Leader for the Fifth Judicial Circuit,
which covers Richland and Kershaw Counties. He is a graduate of the University
of Florida, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000. He received his Juris
Doctor from the University of South Carolina School Of Law in 2004. Since
joining the Fifth Circuit in 2003, he has served as a Law Clerk, Assistant
Solicitor and Team Leader tasked with prosecuting a variety of Violent Crimes
to include Murder, Armed Robbery, Sexual Assault, and Burglary.
Mr. Goldberg has
previously lectured at various law enforcement, educational and community
outreach programs, as well as participated in numerous Bar activities.
Mr. Goldberg’s honors
include Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution for
General Sessions Court (2021); Leadership Academy, Class IV, South Carolina Bar
(2012 – 2013); Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, University of South Carolina
School of Law (April 2004).
Mr. Goldberg is a Member,
Committee on Character and Fitness, South Carolina Supreme Court; Council
Member, Criminal Law Section Council, South Carolina Bar; Member, John Belton
O’Neall Inn of Court; Chairman, Board of Directors, Domestic Abuse Center;
Member, Resolution of Fee Disputes Board, South Carolina Bar.
Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office
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Dayne Phillips
Price Benowitz LLP
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ELIZABETH PRINGLE
Fielding grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. She attended the College of Charleston and graduated cum laude with a major in Philosophy in 1992. Fielding was a member of the equestrian team for the College of Charleston and competed throughout her college career throughout the Southeast as well as at the national
level.
After college she attended law school and in 1996, she graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After law school, Fielding worked as a staff attorney at the South Carolina Supreme Court for two years. She then entered practice as an assistant public defender with the Richland County Public Defender's office where she has since worked the better part of her entire career as a lawyer representing the interests of indigent defendants in Richland County. Her interest in criminal defense began as a law clerk working for the Death Penalty Resource Center in law school in the early 90's. Since that time, she has handled capital cases at all levels of the process from trial to clemency proceedings. She has represented numerous defendants in high profile cases capital and non-capital during her career. In 2009, The Honorable Douglas Strickler appointed her Chief Public Defender for Richland County. In April of 2018, she was appointed Fifth Circuit Public Defender by the South Carolina Office on Indigent Defense. On April 19, 2018 she was sworn into office by the Honorable Clifton Newman at the Richland County Judicial Center. Fielding is the Public Defender Representative for the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is also a board member for the Public Defender Association of South Carolina.
Fifth Circuit Public Defender
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Nicole Singletary
Nicole Singletary graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2000 with a degree in Liberal Arts. She graduated from the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA in 2005. She is a member of the Richland County Bar. She worked for the Richland County Public Defender's Office from August 2005 to April 2010. She is currently in private practice at The Law Office of Nicole L. Singletary.
The Law Ofc. of Nicole Singletary
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Roger Young
Roger M.
Young, Sr. the son of the late Rev. James W. Young and Joyce L. Young. He grew
up in North Charleston, and in 1980 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree
from the Baptist College at Charleston, which is now known as Charleston
Southern University. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School
of Law in 1983 with the degree of Juris Doctor, and with the degree of Master
of Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2000.
While in
private practice, Judge Young also served as a Municipal Judge for the City of
North Charleston from 1988-90. He was elected to the South Carolina House of
Representatives in 1990 and served two terms. He was Master-in-Equity for
Charleston County from 1996 until July 1, 2003, when he became a Circuit Court Judge
for the 9 th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. He has also served
concurrently as a Business Court Judge for SC since it was created in 2007 and
is Chief Administrative Judge of the South Carolina Business Court.
He was
President of the South Carolina Circuit Court Judges Association from 2012-14.
S.C. Circuit Court
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Shaun Kent
Shaun Kent has been practicing law in the State of South Carolina for the preceding 20 years. From simple Assault and Battery to Murder, Shaun has defended and tried almost every type of case imaginable.
A scholarship soccer player, Shaun graduated from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a dual major in Political Science and Speech Communication. Thereafter, he attended the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing, Michigan where he graduated Cum Laude and received his Juris Doctorate in 2000. While in law school, Shaun was editor of the Law Review and participated in and won numerous national Moot Court competitions.
After graduating from law school, Kent returned to Aiken, South Carolina and taught criminal law at a local university. He served as a Public Defender for Aiken before leaving and going to Charleston, South Carolina to serve as Assistant Solicitor under the late Ralph Hoisington. As a prosecutor, Kent was tasked with the responsibility of overseeing and training young prosecutors, as well as handling complex murder and high profile drug cases. Since leaving the prosecutor’s office, Kent has primarily practiced in Manning, South Carolina focusing primarily on criminal defense as well as some personal injury work. Shaun has been invited by many attorneys all over the country to help try complex criminal cases.
Kent Law Firm, LLC
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