Cody Mitchell

Cody Mitchell
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 65th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 6, 2022
Preceded byJay Lucas
Personal details
Born
Cody Tarlton Mitchell

(1986-06-11) June 11, 1986 (age 38)
Greeneville, Tennessee
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAmanda Kathryn (m. 2015)
EducationPresbyterian College (BA), University of South Carolina, (JD)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army National Guard
Years of service2008–2012
RankMajor

Cody Mitchell is an American politician and lawyer who is currently serving as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 65th district. Mitchell is a Republican.

Early life and career

Born in Greenville, Tennessee, Mitchell joined the military in 2008 and retired in 2012.[1] He later served as a prosecutor in the South Carolina Army National Guard with the rank of major.[2] He graduated from Presbyterian College with his bachelor of arts, and from the University of South Carolina with his Juris Doctor.

Mitchell became a law partner at the firm "Lucas, White & Mitchell" beginning in 2011. Jay Lucas, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, was one of his partners.[3][4]

Mitchell served as a municipal judge for the towns of Bethune (2013–2021) and Hartsville (2013–2021). He also served as a municipal judge for the towns of McBee, Jefferson, and Biphopville.[1]

DUI

Mitchell was arrested on May 8, 2021, in Chesterfield County by the South Carolina Highway Patrol for DUI after refusing to submit to an improperly requested breathalyzer test. He was also charged with having an open container of alcohol while driving.[5] In early June, all charges were dismissed for lack of evidence by the court.[4] Critics accused Mitchell of using his status and closeness to the Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives to get the charges dropped.[5]

Political career

Mitchell was elected in 2022 to the South Carolina House of Representatives for the 65th district from Sumter. He succeeded Jay Lucas, who was also one of his law partners and his mentor. Mitchell was sworn in on December 6, 2022.[6] He serves on the judiciary and rules committee.

References

  1. ^ a b "Representative Cody T. Mitchell". scstatehouse.gov. South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Cody. "Meet Cody Republican for State House". Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Cody Tarlton Mitchell". scbar.org. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Smith, Glenn. "DUI charge dismissed against former judge and law partner to SC House speaker". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Folks, Will. "DUI, Open Container Charges Against South Carolina Municipal Judge Dropped". FITSNEWS. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Budds, Becky. "'It's time to start governing': 27 New SC House members sworn in". WLTX.com. Retrieved December 21, 2022.