[1] He received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Rhodes College and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review.

He started his legal career as an associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, where he was a partner before becoming a judge.

His nationwide trial practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal courts.

On the basis of this experience, he was invited to serve as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

He was nominated to the seat being vacated by Judge William Byrd Traxler Jr., who announced his intention to assume senior status on August 31, 2018.