Todd Rutherford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Todd Rutherford
Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2013
Preceded by	Harry L. Ott Jr.
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 74th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 1998
Preceded by	Alma W. Byrd
Personal details
Born	James Todd Rutherford (1970-10-10) October 10, 1970 (age 54) Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Naida Harris ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2017)​ Megan Pinckney ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	2
Education	Howard University (BA) University of South Carolina, Columbia (JD)

James Todd Rutherford (born October 10, 1970 in Columbia, South Carolina) is an American politician and Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 74th District since 1999. He is the Minority Leader of the House.

Early life and education

Rutherford graduated from W.J. Keenan High School in 1988. Rutherford earned his bachelor's degree from Howard University in 1992. He then worked as Legislative Assistant to Congressman Robin Tallon before earning his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1996.

..... In 1998, he founded the Rutherford Law Firm.

Legal Work

..... In 1998, he founded the Rutherford Law Firm.

See Trial of Alex Murdaugh

In April 2023 Rutherford and Mark Moore became the new legal team for South Carolina banker Russell Laffitte, who faced state charges after his conviction as a co-conspirator with Alex Murdaugh in federal financial crimes. The State trial has been deferred until 2024.

South Carolina General Assembly

Rutherford was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 1998 to represent House District 74. He initially served on the Military, Medical and Municipal Affairs Committee before joining the Judiciary Committee in 2002. Rutherford currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee and the Ethics Committee. In 2013, Rutherford was elected Minority Leader.

Rutherford was named Young Democrat of the year in 1999.

In 2007 Rutherford introduced a bill to replace the Confederate battle flag with the South Carolina state flag. However, the bill never received a hearing. In June 2015 the flag was removed with the overwhelming support of the House Democratic Caucus.

..... In 2014, Rutherford filed the "Put Patients First Act," the first of its kind in South Carolina.

Rutherford joined House members Deon Tedder and Roger Kirby in forming the Freedom Caucus of South Carolina, in contrast to the conservative SC Freedom Caucus.