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Steve A. Matthews

Nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

  • Steve Matthews is a highly accomplished and well-respected attorney who is widely praised by lawyers and judges alike for his intellect, integrity and measured temperament.

    • Mr. Matthews has been nominated to the Fourth Circuit, which hears appeals from the federal district courts of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

  • Mr. Matthews has a distinguished record as a practicing attorney in the public and private sectors.

    • Mr. Matthews is a Shareholder at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, one of South Carolina’s premier law firms.

      • Mr. Matthews served as Co-Managing Director of his firm from 2001 to 2004, and was the Managing Director from 2004 to 2008.
      • While in private practice, Mr. Matthews has worked in a diverse set of practice areas, such as municipal finance law, telecommunications, and intellectual property.
      • Mr. Matthews is also an accomplished litigator, having successfully argued cases in state and federal court, including the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the court to which he is nominated - the Fourth Circuit.

    • From 1985-1988, Mr. Matthews held a variety of high-ranking positions at the United States Department of Justice.

      • Mr. Matthews served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division (1985), Special Counsel to Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division (1985-1986), Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy (1986-1987), and Executive Assistant to the Attorney General (1988).
      • Mr. Matthews received the Department of Justice Special Achievement Award for his performance as Executive Assistant to the Attorney General.

    • Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Matthews worked for the law firm of Dewey Ballantine in Washington, D.C., where he practiced corporate law for five years.

  • Mr. Matthews has impeccable academic credentials and professional training.

    • Mr. Matthews received his B.A. in History from the University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude in 1977.
    • Mr. Matthews received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1980.

  • Mr. Matthews has been an active member of the community in both legal and non-legal capacities.

    • Mr. Matthews was appointed by the Attorney General of South Carolina as a special prosecutor for criminal domestic violence cases.
    • He served for two terms in the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates.
    • He is a frequent lecturer on a number of legal issues, such as municipal finance law, intellectual property and legal ethics.
    • He served as Chairman of the Governor’s South Carolina Education Reform Council.