Madam Chief Justice: Jean Hoefer Toal of South Carolina

The story of South Carolina’s first female Chief Justice, with contributions by Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, legal scholars, family members, and more.

As a lawyer, legislator, and judge, Jean Hoefer Toal is one of the most accomplished women in South Carolina history. In this volume, contributors—including two United States Supreme Court Justices, federal and state judges, state leaders, historians, legal scholars, leading attorneys, family, and friends—provide analysis, perspective, and biographical information about the life and career of this dynamic leader and her role in shaping South Carolina.

Growing up during the 1950s and ‘60s, Jean Hoefer was a youthful witness to the civil rights movement in the state and nation. Observing the state’s premier civil rights lawyer, Matthew J. Perry Jr., in court encouraged her to attend law school, where she met her husband, Bill Toal. When she was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1968, fewer than one hundred women had been admitted in the state’s history. From then on she was both a leader and a role model.

She excelled in trial and appellate work and won major victories on behalf of Native Americans and women. In 1975, she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and despite her age and gender quickly became one of the most respected members of that body. During her years in the House, Toal promoted major legislation on issues including constitutional law, criminal law, utilities regulation, local government, state appropriations, workers compensation, and freedom of information. In 1988, she was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and twelve years later she was elected Chief Justice, becoming the first woman ever to hold the highest position in the state’s judiciary. As Chief Justice, Toal modernized not only her court, but also the state’s judicial system.

As a child, she loved roller skating in the lobby of the post office—a historic building that now serves as the Supreme Court of South Carolina. From a child in Columbia to Madam Chief Justice, her story comes full circle in this compelling account of her life and influence.

Contributors include: Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. * Joan P. Assey * Jay Bender * C. Mitchell Brown * W. Lewis Burke Jr. * M. Elizabeth (Liz) Crum * Tina Cundari * Cameron McGowan Currie * Walter B. Edgar * Jean Toal Eisen * Robert L. Felix * Richard Mark Gergel * Ruth Bader Ginsburg * Elizabeth Van Doren Gray * Sue Erwin Harper * Jessica Childers Harrington * Kaye G. Hearn * Blake Hewitt * I.S. Leevy Johnson * John W. Kittredge * Lilla Toal Mandsager * Mary Campbell McQueen * James E. Moore * Sandra Day O’Connor * Richard W. Riley * Bakari T. Sellers * Robert J. Sheheen * Amelia Waring Walker * Bradish J. Waring

1122866751
Madam Chief Justice: Jean Hoefer Toal of South Carolina

The story of South Carolina’s first female Chief Justice, with contributions by Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, legal scholars, family members, and more.

As a lawyer, legislator, and judge, Jean Hoefer Toal is one of the most accomplished women in South Carolina history. In this volume, contributors—including two United States Supreme Court Justices, federal and state judges, state leaders, historians, legal scholars, leading attorneys, family, and friends—provide analysis, perspective, and biographical information about the life and career of this dynamic leader and her role in shaping South Carolina.

Growing up during the 1950s and ‘60s, Jean Hoefer was a youthful witness to the civil rights movement in the state and nation. Observing the state’s premier civil rights lawyer, Matthew J. Perry Jr., in court encouraged her to attend law school, where she met her husband, Bill Toal. When she was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1968, fewer than one hundred women had been admitted in the state’s history. From then on she was both a leader and a role model.

She excelled in trial and appellate work and won major victories on behalf of Native Americans and women. In 1975, she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and despite her age and gender quickly became one of the most respected members of that body. During her years in the House, Toal promoted major legislation on issues including constitutional law, criminal law, utilities regulation, local government, state appropriations, workers compensation, and freedom of information. In 1988, she was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and twelve years later she was elected Chief Justice, becoming the first woman ever to hold the highest position in the state’s judiciary. As Chief Justice, Toal modernized not only her court, but also the state’s judicial system.

As a child, she loved roller skating in the lobby of the post office—a historic building that now serves as the Supreme Court of South Carolina. From a child in Columbia to Madam Chief Justice, her story comes full circle in this compelling account of her life and influence.

Contributors include: Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. * Joan P. Assey * Jay Bender * C. Mitchell Brown * W. Lewis Burke Jr. * M. Elizabeth (Liz) Crum * Tina Cundari * Cameron McGowan Currie * Walter B. Edgar * Jean Toal Eisen * Robert L. Felix * Richard Mark Gergel * Ruth Bader Ginsburg * Elizabeth Van Doren Gray * Sue Erwin Harper * Jessica Childers Harrington * Kaye G. Hearn * Blake Hewitt * I.S. Leevy Johnson * John W. Kittredge * Lilla Toal Mandsager * Mary Campbell McQueen * James E. Moore * Sandra Day O’Connor * Richard W. Riley * Bakari T. Sellers * Robert J. Sheheen * Amelia Waring Walker * Bradish J. Waring

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Overview

The story of South Carolina’s first female Chief Justice, with contributions by Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, legal scholars, family members, and more.

As a lawyer, legislator, and judge, Jean Hoefer Toal is one of the most accomplished women in South Carolina history. In this volume, contributors—including two United States Supreme Court Justices, federal and state judges, state leaders, historians, legal scholars, leading attorneys, family, and friends—provide analysis, perspective, and biographical information about the life and career of this dynamic leader and her role in shaping South Carolina.

Growing up during the 1950s and ‘60s, Jean Hoefer was a youthful witness to the civil rights movement in the state and nation. Observing the state’s premier civil rights lawyer, Matthew J. Perry Jr., in court encouraged her to attend law school, where she met her husband, Bill Toal. When she was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1968, fewer than one hundred women had been admitted in the state’s history. From then on she was both a leader and a role model.

She excelled in trial and appellate work and won major victories on behalf of Native Americans and women. In 1975, she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and despite her age and gender quickly became one of the most respected members of that body. During her years in the House, Toal promoted major legislation on issues including constitutional law, criminal law, utilities regulation, local government, state appropriations, workers compensation, and freedom of information. In 1988, she was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and twelve years later she was elected Chief Justice, becoming the first woman ever to hold the highest position in the state’s judiciary. As Chief Justice, Toal modernized not only her court, but also the state’s judicial system.

As a child, she loved roller skating in the lobby of the post office—a historic building that now serves as the Supreme Court of South Carolina. From a child in Columbia to Madam Chief Justice, her story comes full circle in this compelling account of her life and influence.

Contributors include: Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. * Joan P. Assey * Jay Bender * C. Mitchell Brown * W. Lewis Burke Jr. * M. Elizabeth (Liz) Crum * Tina Cundari * Cameron McGowan Currie * Walter B. Edgar * Jean Toal Eisen * Robert L. Felix * Richard Mark Gergel * Ruth Bader Ginsburg * Elizabeth Van Doren Gray * Sue Erwin Harper * Jessica Childers Harrington * Kaye G. Hearn * Blake Hewitt * I.S. Leevy Johnson * John W. Kittredge * Lilla Toal Mandsager * Mary Campbell McQueen * James E. Moore * Sandra Day O’Connor * Richard W. Riley * Bakari T. Sellers * Robert J. Sheheen * Amelia Waring Walker * Bradish J. Waring


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781611176933
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press
Publication date: 04/13/2022
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 242
File size: 3 MB
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

W. Lewis Burke Jr. is an emeritus professor of law at the University of South Carolina where he was chair of the Department of Clinical Legal Studies and taught clinics, alternative dispute resolution, trial advocacy, and South Carolina legal history. Before joining the law school faculty, he was a VISTA volunteer and a legal services attorney. Burke is the author and editor of five books and the author of numerous essays and articles on legal history. He resides on a farm in Saluda County.



Joan P. Assey is the director of technology for the South Carolina Judicial Department. Under Assey's leadership, South Carolina has been awarded $52 million in federal grants during the past ten years to use in developing technology for its court system. Previously she served as the technology adviser for education in the office of Governor James Hodges. Assey began her professional career as an educator in Richland County School District Two, where she taught middle and high school English. She lives in Columbia.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Foreword Sandra Day O'Connor ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction Ruth Bader Ginsburg 1

"It's a Girl" W. Lewis Burke Bahari T. Sellers 7

You Don't Start Out as Chief Justice Jay Bender 31

Into the Twentieth Century as a Lawyer Legislator M. Elizabeth Crum 46

A New Associate Justice C. Mitchell Brown 75

An Unrelenting Judicial Warrior in South Carolina's Video Poker Wars Judge Richard Mark Gergel 88

Toal on Torts (1987-2014) Robert L. Felix 96

Abbeville County School District v. State: Changing South Carolina Jessica Childers Harrington W. Lewis Burke 112

Bringing the Courts into the Twenty-First Century Tina Cundari 121

Family, Friends, and Community Jean Tool Eisen Lillet Tool Mandsager 137

The Sisterhood of the Ladder: The Impact of Chief Justice Toal on the Rise in Participation of Women in the Legal Profession in South Carolina Sue Erwin Harper Elizabeth Van Daren Gray 147

Personal Reflections: Collected Amelia Waring Walker 161

The Lady's a Leader Richard W. Riley 161

The Hoefer Girls Judge Cameron McGowan Currie 163

Observations of Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal Robert J. Sheheen 164

From My Vantage Point I. S. Leery Johnson 166

Destined for the Records Rook Justice John W. Kittredge 167

My First Glimpse Justice Kaye G. Hearn 170

An Amazing Lady Justice James E. Moore 171

Reflections of a Law Clerk Blake Hewitt 171

National Leader Mary Campbell McQueen 173

Heeding the Call Bradish J. Waring 175

All Hail the Chief!: Quintessential South Carolinian Walter B. Edgar Judge Joseph F. Anderson 178

Contributors 183

Index 191

What People are Saying About This

Michele Childs

This comprehensive presentation of the life and career of Chief Justice Toal details her impact on modern government, the court system, and the legal profession. As women in South Carolina have achieved positions of leadership as federal judges, Supreme Court justices, and trial judges at every level, we know that we all stand on the shoulders of Jean Hoefer Toal.

Wallace B. Jefferson

Madam Chief Justice celebrates a towering and historic life. Jean Toal's wisdom, courage, and perseverance are captured masterfully in this book. It is a must-read for all who care for the rule of law and for the pioneers who have devoted their lives to its service.

Harris Pastides

The editors have assembled eloquent voices to detail the trailblazing career of this remarkable South Carolina leader. Jean Toal's passion for the law as a lawyer, legislator, and judge paved the way for a modern South Carolina.

Alex Sanders

This biography of Chief Justice Toal is not only informative and entertaining, it contains a rather definitive history of South Carolina during the period of her public life.

William Hubbard

Madam Chief Justice is a remarkable book chronicling a remarkable life. It captures in exquisite and elegant detail the trailblazing leadership of one of the seminal figures in the history of South Carolina. This volume is a scintillating story of the legal and political history of South Carolina of the last 50 years, a history that cannot be told without having as a centerpiece the life and times of the extraordinary and —incomparable Jean Hoefer Toal.

Kathleen Parker

Chief Justice Toal is one of South Carolina's most important women. A lifelong pro-life Democrat, she fits no Southern stereotype or political template.

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