The University of South Carolina announced on Thursday morning that South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal, the first woman to serve on the state's highest court, will be the commencement speaker for summer 2015 graduates on August 8.
Toal is a native to Columbia, having graduated from Dreher High School in 1961 before receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Agnes Scott College and in 1968 a J.D. degree from the USC School of Law.
After completing law school, the SC Chief Justice practiced as an associate with the Haynsworth Law Firm in Greenville, and then as an associate and partner with Belser, Baker, Barwick, Ravenel, Toal and Bender in Columbia.
When Toal was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1968, women comprised less than one percent of the licensed lawyers in South Carolina. During her time practicing law and serving as a representative and justice, that number has risen to almost 20 percent.
From 1974, she was elected to serve in the SC House of Representatives, later becoming the first woman to chair the House Rules committee. In 1988, Toal was elected to the SC Supreme Court after 20 years of practicing law and 13 years serving in the House of Representatives. Two years later, she was elected Chief Justice and again re-elected in 2004 and 2014.
With 27 years on the SC Supreme Court under her belt, Toal has written opinions on a wide range of civil and criminal issues. She has also successfully pushed for the integration of technology initiatives into the eight levels of courts in South Carolina through the Judicial Automation Project.
Toal has led South Carolina into a new era of civics education. She was instrumental in launching iCivics in SC, a web-based educational program about civics, and supported the use of "Justice Case Files," a graphic novel series that teaches students how the courts work.
Additionally, the South Carolina Judiciary has implemented three state educational civics programs under Toal's leadership: The Class Action program, which brings students to the state Supreme Court to hear oral arguments, The Case of the Month program, which streams video of state Supreme Court cases for students to study and the SC Supreme Court Institute, held to help middle and high school history teachers bring law to life for their students.
Having served the state for a good number of years, will serve as chief justice for the remainder of 2015 when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 72. Toal will be succeeded by current SC Supreme Court Associate Justice Costa Pleicones, who was elected unanimously on May 27. Pleicones is also looking at a short run as chief justice, as he turns 72 in February 2016.
As a clear supporter of education and the ways to keep it interesting for students, Chief Justice Toal will address 1,526 USC graduates from all eight campuses at 10 a.m. on August 8 in the Colonial Life Arena.