SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS NO SIGN OF ARSON IN FIRE THAT DESTROYED JUDGE’S HOME. (PHOTO).

 

South Carolina attorney general says no sign of arson in fire that destroyed judge’s home

State investigators have not found any indication that the fire that destroyed a judge’s home on Edisto Island, South Carolina, was deliberately set, according to the state’s top law enforcement official. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel said Monday that the blaze, which occurred Saturday, nearly burned to the ground the home owned by Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein. Keel emphasized that the investigation remains active and that agents will release a full report once the cause has been determined. “At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set. SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion,” he said. Keel did not provide further details about the ongoing investigation.

Authorities confirmed that three people were injured in the fire, including one who was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina. Colleton County Fire-Rescue said the victims, whose names have not been released, were forced to jump from the elevated first floor of the home, with several later rescued by kayaks from the swampy yard behind the residence. Video footage released by firefighters showed the structure engulfed in flames, and aerial photos later revealed little more than charred supports amid the ruins.

Judge Goodstein, who has served on the bench for 27 years, recently gained attention for a ruling that temporarily blocked the South Carolina Election Commission from releasing voter data requested by the U.S. Department of Justice. That order was overturned a week later by the state Supreme Court, which said Goodstein’s ruling did not sufficiently prove harm or a likelihood of success in the case.

SLED rarely comments on open investigations, but Keel said he made an exception to discourage speculation. “I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgment and not share information that has not been verified,” he wrote. Goodstein, known for her professionalism and integrity, was praised by the Judicial Merit Screening Commission during her 2022 re-election for her temperament and reputation. Over her career, she has presided over significant cases, including a $12 million settlement involving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston and the 2014 property dispute between the national Episcopal Church and the breakaway Diocese of South Carolina.