Event Information

A life-long Greenwood native, Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr. was born in Greenwood, South Carolina in 1967 to the late F. Robert Addy, Sr., and Mary Katherine Addy, a retired English teacher. Judge Addy is married and they have two children.

Judge Addy attended the public schools of Greenwood County, and upon graduating from high school, he enrolled in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. While in college, he was nominated for Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from USC cum laude in 1990 with a degree in International Studies and a minor in business. While attending USC law school, he served as Articles Editor for the Student Editorial Board of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, was president of the International Law Society, served on the International Moot Court Team, and was a member of the Palmetto Law Society. Judge Addy graduated from law school in 1993 and was admitted to the SC Bar on November 15, 1993.

Judge Addy began his legal career as Assistant Solicitor for the Eighth Circuit and was promoted to Deputy Solicitor in 1995. Upon the passing of his father in early 1997, Judge Addy entered the private practice of law while also assisting his grandparents in the family business. From 1998 to 1999, he served as Chief Public Defender for Greenwood and Abbeville Counties. He was appointed Greenwood County Probate Judge on June 3, 1999 and was subsequently reelected without opposition. From 2006 to 2007 he served periodically as Special Circuit Judge during the convalescence of the late Judge Wyatt Saunders. In 2008, Judge Addy assisted in establishing the Eighth Circuit Drug Court.

Judge Addy has been active in many civic, community, and professional organizations, including serving as a youth mentor for Greenwood District 50, coaching the Greenwood High and Ware Shoals High mock trial teams, and den leader for Cub Scout Pack 222.  From 2005 to 2006 he served as President of the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges, chaired several committees of that organization, and chaired the Probate Judge’s Advisory Committee to the Chief Justice from 2001 to 2003. Judge Addy received the Executive of the Year award from the Emerald Chapter of IAAP in 2003. He currently serves as treasurer for the South Carolina Circuit Judges Association, he is the Judicial Branch liaison to the Department of Mental Health, and in 2021 he was appointed as the Circuit Court representative to the Access to Justice Commission.

Judge and Mrs. Addy are active members of St. Mark United Methodist Church.   He is a member of Greenwood Masonic Lodge #91, Greenwood Cotillion, and the Rotary Club of Greenwood.   In their spare time, the Addys enjoy travel and anything to do with boats, the water, or Gamecock Football.

Judge Michael Scott Rankin was born in Wilson, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1988.  He later received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1993.

Judge Rankin was a Law Clerk for Jack B. Swerling and was an associate with D. Kenneth Baker, P.A. in Darlington. He also served on the Darlington County Public Defender Board from 1994 to 1995. Judge Rankin had his solo law practice in Camden for 19 years where he practiced in the areas of Family Law and Personal Injury.  Additionally, he worked as a Guardian ad Litem and is also a certified Family Court Mediator.  Representing juveniles, as well as adults, Judge Rankin served as Kershaw County Public Defender from 1998 to 2001, and was later appointed as Magistrate for Kershaw County, serving part time from 2006 to 2019.  He was elected as Fifth Circuit Family Court Judge in February, 2019 and sworn in on July 1, 2019.

Judge Rankin has been highly involved in the Kershaw County community. Additionally, he served on SC Courts Mental Health Task Force with a focus on children and families. Currently, Judge Rankin is serving on the Chief Justice’s Family Court Advisory Committee.