Event Information

John Kittredge was born and raised in Greenville County. Justice Kittredge graduated from the University of South Carolina, summa cum laude. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Academic honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Coif, and Wig and Robe.  Justice Kittredge is the first person ever to serve on all South Carolina courts, which include the family court, the circuit court, the court of appeals, and currently the state supreme court.  Justice Kittredge and his wife, Lila, have three children and two grandchildren.  Through the years, Justice Kittredge has served on many boards and commissions, including Chair of the Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession. 

Dove received a BA degree in economics in 1978 from Winthrop University and a JD degree in 1983 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.  He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1983 and has continued in active law practice since that time.   

His legal work is focused on adoption and family formation.  He has handled over 2000 adoptions.  Because his firm is frequently involved in contested litigation involving children in the care of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (“DSS”), his firm is intentionally staffed with former DSS employees: Former County Director, Case Worker, County Investigation Supervisor, and Regional Director.   

Dove served on the State Technical Corrections Committee for the South Carolina Adoption Act (S.C. Code §63-9-10 et seq.) in the years following the Act’s adoption in 1986.  He is an Adoption Fellow with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (since 1995) and is a 2008 recipient of the Congressional Angels of Adoption Award. He has participated as a presenter in various adoption related continuing education programs sponsored by the South Carolina Bar Association, as well as other sponsoring entities. 

ADOPTION RELATED CASES IN SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT 

Dove has participated in a significant number of appeals in both the South Carolina Supreme Court and the South Carolina Court of Appeals.  Below are noteworthy adoption related cases decided by the South Carolina Supreme Court in which Dove participated:  

Tammy D. v. Baby Girl B. (S.C. 2015) (Unpublished opinion, April 23, 2015).  Dove and co-counsel James Fletcher Thompson represented foster parents in case where foster parents objected to an order issued by a Family Court Judge that had overruled a prior order issued by another Family Court Judge.  The Supreme Court reversed the Family Court  Judge’s decision, and held: “There is a long-standing rule in this State that one judge of the same court cannot overrule another."  

South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Boulware, 809 S.E.2d 223, 422 S.C. 1 (S.C. 2018). Dove represented foster parents seeking termination of parental rights and adoption of a child which had been placed into their care by DSS.  The Family Court granted termination of parental rights but dismissed the foster parents’ action seeking adoption of the child, ruling that foster parents lacked standing to pursue a private action to adopt a child who had been placed in their foster care by DSS.  The Supreme Court reversed the family court, concluding that foster parents had standing to pursue a private adoption. 

South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Smith, 814 S.E.2d 148, 423 S.C. 60 (S.C. 2018). Dove and co-counsel James Fletcher Thompson represented the foster parents who had sought termination of parental rights and adoption of a child which had been placed into their care by DSS.  The Family Court granted termination of parental rights and granted adoption by the foster parents.  The biological father appealed.  The Court of Appeals reversed, finding that the trial court record did not contain clear and convincing evidence supporting termination of parental rights.  The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the Family Court's grant of adoption to the foster parents. The case supported the Boulware decision above, concluding that foster parents had standing to pursue a private adoption of a child placed with them by DSS.  The decision also clarified grounds to terminate parent rights of incarcerated parents and established a child’s “attachment” to caregivers as an integral aspect of a child’s best interest. 

Cooper v. South Carolina Department of Social Services, 428 S.C. 402, 835 S.E.2d 516 (S.C. 2019). Dove represented foster parents seeking termination of parental rights and adoption of a child which had been placed into their care by DSS.  The Family Court denied the foster parents’ motion to intervene in the DSS removal action involving the child.  The Supreme Court reversed the Family Court, ruling that the foster parents were entitled to intervene in the DSS removal action, and clarifying the applicability of intervention under Rule 24, SCRCP where foster parents were seeking to adopt foster children in their care.   

Ex parte Carter (S.C. 2020), (Unpublished opinion, December 7, 2020). Dove represented adoptive parents in case where biological mother attempted to withdraw her consent to adoption, challenging the validity and voluntariness of her consent.  The Family Court determined that mother’s consent was validly obtained and voluntarily given, and affirmed the adoption.  The Supreme Court affirmed Family Court and upheld the final adoption. 

ADOPTION RELATED WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE  

Dove was a principal proponent and participant in the drafting of the following by the South Carolina Legislature:

• S.C. Code §63-9-60 amendments adopted in 2018, which made clear the standing of South Carolina residents and certain non-residents to bring and maintain legal actions for adoption of children who are in the custody of DSS. 
• S.C. Code §63-9-370, enacted in 2018, which clarified the right of parents to execute adoption consents for their children, even when such children are in the custody of DSS.  
• Budget Proviso 38.30 to the South Carolina Department of Social Services Budget for budget years 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, wherein the South Carolina Legislature provided direction to DSS to protect the welfare of children by securing attachment assessments and transition plans before attempting to remove children from secure, long-term foster placements; and to promptly bring actions for termination of parental rights when required by Court Order or when children have been in foster care for 15 months. 

We know what you’re thinking, but no, Lauren is not related to Dale, believe it or not! Lauren graduated from North Greenville University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During her undergraduate program, she became interested in adoption and developed a passion to work with women who may be experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. With this career path in mind, after also completing a certificate program in American Sign Language from Spartanburg Community College, she sought out and earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina where she was able to complete an internship with Christian Family Services, a former South Carolina licensed child-placing agency, further strengthening her desire to work within the field.

Lauren is a licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) in the states of South Carolina and Georgia, a certified Master’s Social Worker (CMSW) in the state of North Carolina, and a Certified Adoption Investigator. Lauren has worked with Jim Thompson since 2015 as a social worker, working with all members of the adoption constellation in all stages of the adoption process. In addition to her work in adoption, Lauren enjoys being a part of the Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy) program at Thompson Dove Law Group as she provides education and support services to gestational carriers, as well as remains a resource to intended parents as they prepare for the birth of their child(ren) through the journey of surrogacy.

Lauren is a current board member, serving as the marketing chair, for the South Carolina Chapter of Postpartum Support International recognizing the need for awareness and support for those experiencing a perinatal mood disorder, including those further complicated by family building options like adoption or assisted reproduction.

Mindy W. Zimmerman graduated from Chesnee High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a major in English, from Wofford College in 2001.  While at Wofford, she was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and the Pre-Law Fraternity.  She received, in 2005, her Master of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University and in 2006, her Juris Doctor from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, located at Campbell University.     

Judge Zimmerman began her legal career with the Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, where she handled a wide array of criminal prosecution in both General Sessions and Family Court.  In 2009, she opened the Law Firm of Zimmerman and Shealy, LLC, in the office previously occupied by The Honorable Eugene C. Griffith, prior to his election to the Circuit Bench.  During her time in private practice, she focused on Family Court.  At various points in her career, Judge Zimmerman represented the Department of Social Services, the Guardian ad Litem Program and defendants in DSS actions.  She represented parties to private litigation and juveniles charged with criminal offenses.  She was a certified Guardian ad Litem and a certified Family Court Mediator.     

While in Spartanburg, Judge Zimmerman served as a Board Member for the Spartanburg Downtown Association, from which she received the Jill Plemmons Downtown Pride Award.  After moving to Newberry, South Carolina, Judge Zimmerman joined the Newberry Jaycees, and was recognized by receipt of the Outstanding First Timer Award and Outstanding Young Business Leader Award.  She served as a member of the Board of the Newberry Business Alliance and as the Fund Raising Coordinator for the Newberry County 100th Anniversary Girl Scout Celebration Committee.  She has also been a member of the Chambers of Commerce in both Spartanburg and Newberry Counties.