A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE CAROLYN CASON MATTHEWS AND TO CONGRATULATE HER ON RECEIVING THE 2025 JEAN GALLOWAY BISSELL AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is delighted to learn that the Honorable Carolyn Cason Matthews received the 2025 Jean Galloway Bissell Award at the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association award ceremony at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden on Thursday, November 20, 2025; and

 

Whereas, the Bissell Award selection criteria include the honoree's distinguished and noteworthy service to the public and the legal profession, achievement of professional excellence, and participation in activities that have paved the way to success for women lawyers on the national, state, or local level. Past recipients include the Honorable Jean H. Toal, the Honorable Matthew J. Perry, Jr., and the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor; and

 

Whereas, Judge Matthews earned a bachelor's degree in English from Furman University in 1972, also studying during college at the University of London and the Royal Shakespeare Institute in Stratford, England, where she focused on English literature, theater, and history. In preparation for her outstanding legal career, she earned a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1978, finishing in the top ten percent of her class for which she was inducted into the Order of Wig and Robe; and

 

Whereas, a member of the South Carolina Bar since 1978, she also was admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (1979), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1981), and the Supreme Court of the United States (1986). Her broad career has spanned the three branches of South Carolina government, serving the judicial branch as a South Carolina Supreme Court staff attorney (1978-1981) and a law clerk to Justice George T. Gregory Jr. (1981-1982), the legislative branch as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee (1986-1988), and the executive branch as an assistant attorney general (1982-1986), and an administrative law judge (1999-2015); and

 

Whereas, from 1988 to 1999, she worked in private practice as a partner at Woodward, Cothran, and Herndon and at Nelson, Mullins, Riley, and Scarborough, specializing in administrative and governmental relations as well as commercial litigation and appellate practice. She returned to private practice in 2016, opening her own firm and working as a certified circuit court civil mediator (2016-2023), and currently is a partner in Bell Legal Group, focusing on mass tort and complex civil litigation; and

 

Whereas, Judge Matthews' accomplishments and service to her profession are many and varied. She was a graduate of Leadership South Carolina in 1994, a 2011 fellow at the Riley Diversity Leaders Institute of Furman University, and a 2012 Woman of Distinction for the South Carolina Girl Scouts. She served as president of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association (2012-2013) and president of the South Carolina Senior Lawyers Executive Council (2020-2021); has written and taught on a variety of legal topics, such as increasing diversity in the judiciary, state governmental ethics, judicial independence, and appellate practice. She also served on the South Carolina Bar's House of Delegates and as a mentor in its Young Lawyers Division; has been a member of the Richland County Bar Association since 1978, the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association since 1995, the National Association of Women Lawyers since 2003, the National Association of Administrative Law Judges since 1999, and the John Belton Inn of Court since 2002; and

 

Whereas, together with her husband, Colonel John A. McAllister Jr., she has reared three fine daughters. The South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to commend the Honorable Carolyn Cason Matthews for her stellar career and to applaud her upon receiving the Jean Galloway Bissell Award. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the Honorable Carolyn Cason Matthews and congratulate her on receiving the 2025 Jean Galloway Bissell Award from the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Carolyn Cason Matthews.

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