Fourth Circuit nomination for Chief Judge Wilkins' seat should be soon

I'm hearing from multiple sources that a South Carolina nomination is just around the corner. It is a credit to the state that we had a qualified and deep candidate pool: District Judges Floyd and Wooten; US Attorney Lloyd; and esteemed members of the bar such as Bill Coates.

All indications are that the nominee will likely be either Steve Matthews of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, or Judge John Kittredge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Both have been long mentioned in this process. However, this could change with the shifting sands of the nomination process.

Matthews is a Yale law graduate and served in the U.S. Department of Justice during President Reagan's second term. He has a reputation of being one of the brightest intellects in the South Carolina bar. He was a trusted advisor for Attorney General Edwin Meese III.

Judge Kittredge has served on the South Carolina family court bench, the circuit court bench, and the last four years on the state Court of Appeals. He has a reputation for fairness, even temperament, and fastidious preparation. In fact, I appeared before a panel including Judge Kittredge just yesterday, and, as usual, it was a pleasure to argue before him.

Either man would make an excellent addition to the Fourth Circuit.