J.C. Nicholson, Jr.

Contact Caroline Leonard for Scheduling caroline@oshealaw.com (854) 800-4203

Bar Admissions

• South Carolina - 1973

• United States District Court, District of SC - 1973

• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

• United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations

• Retired South Carolina Circuit Judge (1999-2020)

• United States Air Force, Retired Lt. Colonel (1965-1970)

• Air National Guard (1970- 1989)

• Councilman, Orangeburg County Council (1976-1982)

• Assistant Solicitor, Orangeburg County (1973-1976)

• Assistant Solicitor, Greenville County (1983-1984)

• Attorney/Partner, Epps & Krause (1984-1999)

• SCBAR House of Delegates

• Charleston County Bar Association

• Charleston School of Law Board of Advisors

• James L. Petigru American Inn of Court

Education

• University of South Carolina School of Law 

  • J.D. - 1973

• The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

  • B.A. Political Science - 1964

About

Retired Judge J.C. “Buddy” Nicholson, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Nicholson moved to Camden, South Carolina at age three and grew up there. Nicholson received his bachelor's degree from The Citadel in 1964 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1973. Nicholson is a retired Lt. Colonel, having served in the United States Air Force as a pilot from 1965 until 1970 and in the Air National Guard until 1989. Nicholson began his legal career in Orangeburg County, where he was Assistant Solicitor from 1973 until 1974. In 1974, he entered into private practice and served as Assistant Solicitor on a part-time basis until 1976. From 1976 until 1982, Nicholson was a member of Orangeburg County Council. In 1983, he became Assistant Solicitor for Greenville County and served in that capacity for one year before entering into private practice with Epps & Krause, where he became a partner of the firm in 1986.

Nicholson was elected judge at-large in 1999 and began serving as a Circuit Court judge. He served in this position from February 10, 1999 until June 30, 2001, when he was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 2001 succeeding the seat of H. Dean Hall, retired. Nicholson officially retired from the bench in 2009; however, after retirement, he continued to work for the South Carolina Judicial Department as an active/retired Circuit Court judge. Nicholson received widespread notice for his ruling in State v. Jones, a case that addressed stand-your-ground law and domestic violence. Nicholson is also known for being assigned as presiding judge in State v. Roof, involving Dylann Roof and the Charleston church shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015. Nicholson was also assigned and presided over other high-profile matters, including numerous sex abuse cases brought against Catholic Church officials and the Diocese of Charleston.

In 2020, Nicholson joined the O’Shea Law Firm where he works as Special Counsel and advises on complex civil litigation. He also provides mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution services. His years of experience on the bench as a trial judge and as a private practitioner bring a unique perspective for effective dispute resolution services. Nicholson is admitted to practice in all South Carolina Courts, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court. Nicholson has served as a member of the SCBAR House of Delegates, the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers and American Trial Lawyers Association. He is a past member of the Toastmasters Club and a current member of the Rotary Club, the USC Gamecock Club, of the Association of Citadel Men and the Citadel Alumni Club. Nicholson has four children, one stepson, and nine grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf, watching football, and spending time in the outdoors.