Coker University is proud to host Judge Michelle Childs on April 25, 2024, for the university’s President’s Distinguished Speaker series. The event will be at 7 p.m. on campus in the Watson Theater. 

“It is truly an honor to have Judge Childs speak at Coker University as she is a thoughtful and objective individual who rules with fairness in mind. She has been hailed for her “...even-handed approach to the law and commitment to the rights of all people.” and I know she will be an engaging speaker.”

Judge J. Michelle Childs was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in July 2022. She received her undergraduate degree in Management from the University of South Florida Honors College and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Judge Childs also holds a Master's in Personnel and Employment Relations from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, a Master’s of Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from the University of South Carolina.

From 1992 to 2000, Judge Childs worked at Nexsen Pruet, ultimately serving as partner. From 2000 to 2002, she was the Deputy Director for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s Division of Labor. From 2002 to 2006, Judge Childs served as a commissioner on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. In 2006, the South Carolina General Assembly elected her as a state circuit court judge. During that time, Judge Childs served as chief administrative judge for General Sessions, which is South Carolina’s criminal court, and as chief administrative judge for the state’s business court. In 2010, she was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, where she served until her appointment to the D.C. Circuit.

Judge Childs is the President of the Federal Judges Association. She is active in the American Bar Association, where she is a member of the Administrative Law Council, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a fellow in the Litigation Section, and a member of the Committee on the American Judicial System. Formerly, she was the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division and the Secretary of the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section. Judge Childs is also a member of the American Law Institute and its Council, having served as an Advisor to the Restatement (Third) of Employment Law. She currently serves on the Bolch Judicial Institute (BJI) Advisory Board. Judge Childs joins the class of 2022 Rodel Judicial Fellows.

“It isn’t every day you have the opportunity to sit with one of the few judges from a US Court of Appeals. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to spend the evening with Judge Childs and we know her remarks will make us stop and really think deeply.”

For media inquiries, please reach out to Holly Poag at hpoag@coker.edu.