South Carolina judge’s house destroyed by fire; officials investigating cause

A devastating fire engulfed the home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein on Sunday, resulting in three individuals being hospitalized and the complete destruction of the residence. The incident took place while Judge Goodstein was out walking her dogs on the beach in Edisto Island, located approximately an hour south of Charleston. Her husband, former state Sen. Arnold Goodstein, their son Arnold Goodstein III, and another occupant were forced to jump from the elevated first floor of the burning building in order to escape the flames.

Due to the marshy terrain surrounding the property, Colleton County Fire-Rescue had to rescue the three occupants using a kayak from the backyard. One individual was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston, while the other two were transported by ground to the same medical facility. As of now, the condition of the victims remains unknown.

The South Carolina Supreme Court released a statement confirming that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire. Local law enforcement agencies have been notified and requested to provide additional patrols and security. SLED stated that their investigation is currently active and ongoing.

In a recent legal decision, Judge Goodstein had prevented the South Carolina Election Commission from sharing voter information with the Department of Justice. This information included sensitive details such as personal names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and social security numbers. The decision was eventually overturned by the State Supreme Court, following a request from the DOJ to access data on over 3.3 million registered voters in South Carolina.

Judge Goodstein, who has held her Circuit Court judgeship since 1998, has been a prominent figure in the South Carolina Judicial Branch. The incident has raised concerns and garnered attention due to the circumstances surrounding the fire and the recent legal disputes involving Judge Goodstein. The community awaits further updates on the investigation and the recovery of those affected by this tragic event.