FAMILY COURT JUDGES
CIRCUIT 9
(Berkley and Charleston Counties)
JUDGE: Jocelyn B. Cate
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Female
BIRTHDATE: October 17, 1960
RACE: Filipino-American
EDUCATION: BA (English Literature) – Univ. South Carolina (1983); JD – Univ. of South
Carolina (1986)
Judge Cate began her legal career with the Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. She left the Solicitor’s Office to
become the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence E. Richter, Jr. Afterwards, Judge Cate practiced law in
Moncks Corner and later in Charleston. Judge Cate left private practice and returned to the Ninth Judicial
Solicitor’s Office to be in charge of juvenile prosecution in Berkeley County. On February, 2002, Judge Cate was
elected by the General Assembly to serve as a Family Court judge.
JUDGE: Wayne M. Creech
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Male
BIRTHDATE: July 31, 1951
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BA (Business Administration) – Univ. of South Carolina (1973); JD – Univ. of
South Carolina (1976)
After graduating from law school, Judge Creech practiced law in Moncks Corner. He served as town attorney for
Moncks Corner from 1981 through 1987. From March of 1987 through September of 1988, Judge Creech was a
sole practitioner. In April1988, Judge Creech was elected by the SC General Assembly to the position of Berkeley
County Resident Family Court Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. During his tenure on the bench, Judge Creech has
served as administrative judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit and has presided in 21 of the 46 counties.
JUDGE: Paul W. Garfinkel
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Male
BIRTHDATE: August 10, 1944
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BA – Univ. South Carolina (1967); JD – Univ. South Carolina (1970)
After graduation from law school, Judge Garfinkel begin private practice in Charleston, SC. In 1991 he was elected
as a Board member for the 1st Congressional District for the State Occupational Health and Safety Review Board.
He held this position until June, 1995, including serving as state chairman from 1992-94. He was elected by the SC
General Assembly to the position of Family Court Judge for the 9th Judicial Circuit in May 1995. He has served
continuously in that position. Since being elected he has been Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes for the 16th
Judicial Circuit from November 1998 through June 1999, and held the same position for Charleston County in 2000
and Berkeley County for 2008. He is admitted to practice in all SC courts, the US District Court for the District of
SC, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court.
FAMILY COURT JUDGES
CIRCUIT 9
(Berkley and Charleston Counties)
JUDGE: Jack A. Landis
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Male
BIRTHDATE: June 3, 1955
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BA – Erskine College (1977); JD – Univ. South Carolina (1980)
After graduating from law school, Judge Landis began his career as an Assistant Public Defender for Berkeley
County. He entered private practice in 1984. The Moncks Corner Town Council appointed Landis as Municipal
Judge in 1987 where he served until he was elected to the Family Court Bench by the SC General Assembly in May
1998.
JUDGE: Daniel E. Martin, Jr.
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Male
BIRTHDATE: Not Available
RACE: African-American
EDUCATION: BA – Howard Univ. (1974); JD – Univ. South Carolina (1988)
In 1989, Judge Martin joined his father in his law practice. Also in 1989, Judge Martin was appointed to serve as a
part-time Magistrate for Charleston County. He resigned this position in 1993 to dedicate himself to the full time
practice of law. He served on the bench-bar committees for the Charleston County Probate Court and the
Charleston County Master-in-Equity Court. He served as legal counsel for the Town of Lincolnville from 1991 to
1998. Judge Martin was elected on February 2, 2011 to seat no. 1 of the Family Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit.
JUDGE: Judy L. McMahon
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Female
BIRTHDATE: Not Available
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BA – Winthrop College (1966); MA – Florida State University (1967); JD – Univ.
South Carolina (1976)
Judge McMahon practiced law in Charleston, SC and sat as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Charleston from
1978 to 1983. She was elected a Family Court Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit effective February 27, 1983 and has
served continuously since. As a Family Court Judge, she has served as Chief Administrative Judge, 14 th Circuit and
Chief Administrative Judge, 9th Circuit for three terms.