The Judges of the Bankruptcy Court in South Carolina

Darris Thomas was first exposed to the inner workings of a court when he received an offer to work as an intern with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Columbia, South Carolina. As an intern, Darris reviewed cases from the 1960's, 1970's & 1980's and entered them into the Court's electronic database to serve as precedents for future cases. He worked alongside the staff of the Court Administration staff.

Darris got the gracious opportunity to meet each of the three judges of the bankruptcy court of South Carolina: Chief Judge David Duncan, Judge John Waites, and Judge Helen Burris. He had the gracious opportunity to learn about each of their distinguished careers and hear rulings from each judge. During Spring Break, he traveled to each of the chambers of the state's bankruptcy court: Columbia, Charleston, and Spartanburg.

"Such an experience to work in a major federal courthouse has heightened my desire to want to work in the judiciary."

Judge Burris received her B.S. degree from Appalachian State University in 1985, and her J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. She is admitted to practice in South Carolina and North Carolina (now inactive), and before the U.S. District Court for the Western, Eastern, and Middle Districts of North Carolina, the District Court of South Carolina, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. She started her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Marvin Wooten of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1989 to 1990. After her clerkship, she went into private practice until being appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Spartanburg. Her chambers are in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Judge Duncan received both his B.A. degree in 1977, and his J.D. degree in 1980, both from the University of South Carolina. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1980, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court in 1981. From 1980 to 1991, he worked in private practice. Next, from 1991 to 2006, he was the Regional Assistant United States Trustee for Region 4 until his appointment as bankruptcy judge on May 26, 2006. He was elevated to the position of Chief Judge on March 1, 2013. His chambers are in Columbia, South Carolina.

Judge John Waites received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1977, and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1980. He was admitted to the South Carolina in 1980, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 1981. He was appointed as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of South Carolina on June 27, 1994, and as the District’s Chief Bankruptcy Judge on March 1, 2006. He was reappointed to a second 14-year term beginning in June, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Waites served as the estate administrator of the United States bankruptcy court, District of South Carolina from 1984 to 1987. He then worked as the U.S. Trustee for the 4th Judicial Circuit and District of Columbia from 1987 to 1992. He last practiced bankruptcy law as a partner at Nexsen, Pruet, Jacobs and Pollard. Judge Waites has taught as an adjunct professor of law since 2008 at the University of South Carolina School of Law, and since 2010 at the Charleston School of Law. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and the Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Group for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Judge Waites has taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law since 2008 and at the Charleston School of Law since 2010. His chambers are in Charleston, South Carolina.

Darris Thomas hopes to gain more experience in the field of corporate law and bankruptcy law while he is in San Francisco, California.