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Joseph Dawson III at his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing

U.S. District Judge, District of South Carolina

Hon. Joseph Dawson III

Photo: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

Bench Watch Brief · Profile in brief

Joseph Dawson III is a federal district judge in South Carolina, nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed 56-39 in December 2020. He presides over United States v. John Paul Miller, a federal cyberstalking and false-statements case in which the defendant has pleaded not guilty. In 2022, the Fourth Circuit's Judicial Council publicly reprimanded him over a payment deal with his former employer, Charleston County.

Before the bench

Charleston County attorney's office, 1997–2020 (county attorney from 2001); part-time private practice in North Charleston, 2001–2020; S.C. Army National Guard JAG Corps, 1999–2009; S.C. Board of Law Examiners, 2019–2020.

Highlights and issues

  1. Notable ruling

    Grants the defense's sixth motion to continue in United States v. Miller, moving the trial to the January 2027 term

  2. Reversed on appeal

    Appeals court reverses in part, vacates in part and sends Lewis v. Circle K Stores back for further proceedings

  3. Reversed on appeal

    Appeals court reverses his dismissal of a student's disability-discrimination suit against the Horry County School District

  4. Reversed on appeal

    Appeals court vacates a ruling for using the wrong standard to review a magistrate's recommendation (Elijah v. Dunbar)

  5. Discipline

    Publicly reprimanded by the Fourth Circuit's Judicial Council over a separation deal with Charleston County

    The council found an appearance of impropriety but no wrongful intent. The deal paid him $216,000, described at first as pay for “nonlegal advice,” and promised him a share of opioid-lawsuit fees; a later addendum dropped the fee share.

  6. Election

    Confirmed by the U.S. Senate, 56-39

Tracker · covers 2022–2026 · updated November 14, 2026

Judge Joseph Dawson III's record in serious criminal cases

Bench Watch logs sentences by Judge Joseph Dawson III of the U.S. District Court in South Carolina in serious criminal cases, mostly from the U.S. Attorney's press releases. It isn't a complete record. In the one case where both sides' requests were reported, he sentenced below the government's request and the guidelines.

14 entries · select a column to sort

Bench Watch Data

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Judge Joseph Dawson III's record in serious criminal cases

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Source
2026United States v. John Paul MillerTrial dateMoved the trial to the January 2027 term, granting a defense motion with a speedy-trial waiverThe defense asked, with a speedy-trial waiver; it was the defense's sixth motion to continueSource
2025Bhagavan “Doc” AntleSentence for wildlife trafficking conspiracy and money launderingOne year and one day and a $55,000 fineProsecutors asked for about two years, and the defense asked for probation or home confinementBelow the guidelines (about two years, as reported) and the government's requestSource
2025James Edward Moss Jr.Sentence for transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity55 months and 10 years of supervised releaseSource
2025Angela CroslandSentence after trial for bribery, money laundering and drug distribution by a prison officer136 monthsSource
2024Laine ClarkSentence for possessing child sexual abuse material78 months and lifetime supervisionSource
2024Joshua Rodriguez and four othersSentences for fentanyl trafficking and gun chargesFrom 18 to 151 months; Rodriguez 151 monthsSource
2024Elijah N. Fitts and five othersSentences in a robbery and shooting at a Florence apartment complexFrom 24 to 120 months; Fitts 120 months for firing a gun during a crime of violenceSource
2024William DallisSentence for money laundering12 months and one day, and about $75,000 forfeitedSource
2024Marquand NewellSentence for drug and gun crimes117 months, made up of 57 months on the drug charge plus 60 months, consecutive, on the gun chargeSource
2023United States v. Douglas PerdickSentence of a former police officer for distributing child sexual abuse material (guilty plea)60 months, lifetime supervision and $9,000 restitutionSource
2023United States v. Ulisses Jair Perez Guillen and Martine GarciaSentences for cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking, and a gun in furtherance (guilty pleas)Perez Guillen 120 months; Garcia 41 monthsSource
2023United States v. Tiffany McFaddenSentence for leading a PPP loan fraud ring of more than $2 million37 months, 5 years of supervision and restitutionSource
2022United States v. Ashia Rhene McCraySentence for distributing fentanyl, death resulting (guilty plea)135 months and 3 years of supervisionSource
2022United States v. Rashad Jamal MackSentence for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon (guilty plea)57 months and 3 years of supervisionSource

How we built this, and what's missing

Sources