Education
He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts cum laude from South Carolina State University in 1974.
He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts cum laude from South Carolina State University in 1974.
He was elected to a seat on the South Carolina Supreme Court on May 23, 2007, to replace Justice East. C. Burnett, III. Beatty began his legal career by working for the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program, thus fulfilling a personal commitment to use his legal training to benefit those who could not afford paid legal representation. Following his tenure with the legal assistance program, he established a private practice in his home town, Spartanburg, South Carolina. During this time, Justice Beatty maintained a commitment to public service with his election to Spartanburg City Council, later moving to the state level with his election to the House of Representatives.
In addition, he served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman-elect of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.
After five years of distinguished service in the South Carolina General Assembly, he was elected to the Circuit Court in 1995 where he served as a trial judge until he was elevated to the Court of Appeals in 2003. In 2007, Beatty was elected as an Associate Justice on the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Justice Beatty also finds time to appear at various schools and often speaks to youth groups. On February 25, 2016, President Obama nominated Beatty to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, to the seat vacated by Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, who assumed senior status on October 3, 2013.
His nomination is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
During his tenure in the South Carolina General Assembly he served as a member of the Medical Military, Public and Municipal affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee.