Tommy Pope is a Senior Counsel at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys in Rock Hill, South Carolina, bringing an extensive background of over 30 years of litigation experience.
Tommy was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and grew up in Lesslie. The son of a local sheriff and schoolteacher, Tommy saw the importance of public service being modeled in his house at a very young age.
Tommy, a proud Rock Hill High School graduate, chose to attend college at the University of South Carolina, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in 1984. During college, Tommy worked as an agent for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, SLED, and attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, where he graduated with honors. Following his undergraduate studies, Tommy attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he received a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1987 and was subsequently admitted to practice law in South Carolina in 1988.
In 1993, Tommy was elected Solicitor (District Attorney) for the 16th Circuit (Union & York Counties, SC). Throughout his career, Tommy is most often recognized for his 1995 prosecution of Susan Smith in Union County, who made national headlines for the drowning deaths of her two children. Today, he is frequently called upon by various national and international media outlets to provide legal commentary and insight on all types of cases.
Tommy retired as Solicitor in 2006 and began his own law firm. In 2008, he joined the Elrod Law Firm to form the Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, where he has since focused primarily on helping people injured or killed by the negligence of others.
Since 2010, in addition to helping manage the law firm, Tommy has also served as an elected member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 47. In December 2014, his peers elected him Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, and he continues to serve in that capacity today.
Tommy and his wife, Kim, reside in York, South Carolina, and they have four children and four grandchildren. They currently attend Impact Church in Rock Hill. When not working late nights at Elrod Pope or in Columbia during legislative sessions, Tommy enjoys spending time with Kim, taking care of their farm in York, fishing, and relaxing at their home away from home in Holden Beach, North Carolina.
Education:
B.A., University of South Carolina, 1984
J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law, 1987
Honors:
Outstanding Young American Award, Rock Hill Jaycees, 1995
Outstanding Public Service Award, Rock Hill Jaycees, 1994
Silver Compleat Lawyer Award Recipient, 1999
Order of the Palmetto, 2008
The American Legion Department of South Carolina Special Legislative Award, 2012
Super Lawyer, 2013-2024
South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Leadership in Law Award, 2014
Legislator of the Year Award by the SC Recreation & Parks Association, 2014
Society of the Maltese Cross, SC Firefighters’ Association, 2015
Legislative Champion Award on behalf of South Carolina’s Sheriffs, 2022
National Trial Lawyers Top 100, 2022-2024
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rating
Business Advocate Award, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (6x Recipient)
Admissions:
South Carolina Bar
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
Memberships & Involvement:
York County Bar Association
South Carolina Association for Justice
Winthrop University Board of Trustees, 2009-2011
Boys & Girls Club of York County, Past Chief Volunteer Officer
South Carolina Solicitors Association, Past President
South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, Past Chairman
House of Delegates, Board of Governors
Judicial Qualification Commission, Past Chairman