South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

S 515 — Judge Alex Kinlaw, retirement

Last action — Introduced and adopted

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 01, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE ALEX KINLAW JR., A FORMER JUDGE FOR THE 13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BENCH AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

61 added · 10 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill S 515 recognizes and commends the Honorable Alex Kinlaw Jr. for his service as a judge upon his retirement. This version emphasizes his contributions to the 13th Judicial Circuit and highlights his educational background, including his degrees from the University of South Carolina. It matters because such resolutions honor public service and acknowledge the long-term impact of judges on their communities, fostering respect and gratitude for dedicated professionals in the legal system.

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2025-2026 Bill 515 Text of Previous Version (Apr.
01, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 515Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)                 A senate RESOLUTION   TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE ALEX KINLAW JR., A FORMER JUDGE FOR THE 13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BENCH AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
  Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate have learned that the Honorable Alex Kinlaw Jr., a former judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit, entered a well-deserved retirement on December 31, 2024, after decades of faithful and outstanding service to the citizens of the Palmetto State, most particularly those of Pickens and Greenville counties;
and   Whereas, prior to his 2018 election as a judge to the 13th Judicial Circuit, he presided as a resident judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit's Family Court, beginning in 2009.
During that time, he served as the judge for the Juvenile Drug Court (2011-2018);
and   Whereas, in preparation for his career, this native of Georgetown received a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in 1975 and completed his J.D.
at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1978.
While a law student, the young Alex Kinlaw was vice president of the Black American Law Students Association and interned in the Post-Conviction Relief Division of the South Carolina Attorney General's Office and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
He also attended the School of Criminal Defense Attorneys in Houston, Texas;
and   Whereas, before joining the bench, Judge Kinlaw was in private practice in Greenville and Greenwood counties.
Having become certified to handle death-penalty cases, he served as lead counsel for four such cases and also had a brief stint as a part-time prosecutor in the 8th Circuit.
His areas of practice include criminal, civil, domestic relations, and bankruptcy;
and   Whereas, in addition, Judge Kinlaw worked as an assistant public defender with the Greenville County public defender and served as a staff attorney with the Legal Services Agency of Western Carolina;
and   Whereas, his memberships include the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board, Commission on Legal Education and Specialization, South Carolina Black Lawyers Association, Donald J.
Sampson Bar Association, and National Bar Association.
Further, he was a member of the National Conference of Family Court Judges and National Conference of Drug Court Professionals and also has been involved with the Legal Services Board of Western Carolina (chairman), Urban League of the Upstate Board (chairman), State Legal Services Agency Board of Directors, Greenville Mental Health Board, and Greenville Cultural Exchange Board;
and   Whereas, Alex Kinlaw finds strength for his labors in his family:
his wife, Yvette, and their two sons.
The family attends Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church, where Judge Kinlaw serves as vice chairman of the Deacon Ministry;
and   Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is grateful for the legacy of leadership and jurisprudence Judge Kinlaw has bestowed on this great State and appreciates his long and enduring service to the citizens of South Carolina.
Taking great pleasure in wishing him well in retirement, the members trust he will find much enjoyment in the more leisurely pace of the days ahead.
Now, therefore,   Be it resolved by the Senate:
  That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable Alex Kinlaw Jr., a former judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit, upon the occasion of his retirement from the bench and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
  Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Alex Kinlaw Jr.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on April 01, 2025 at 12:32 PM
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Action History

  1. Introduced and adopted

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 169 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (169)

169 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

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Frequently asked questions

What does S 515 do?
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE ALEX KINLAW JR., A FORMER JUDGE FOR THE 13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BENCH AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Who sponsors S 515?
S 515 is sponsored by Senator Karl B. Allen.
What is the current status of S 515?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 01, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track S 515?
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