The Hon. Perry M. Buckner, III (Ret.) was a judge for the 14th Judicial Circuit Court of South Carolina. He was elected to the bench by the South Carolina General Assembly in June 2000. Buckner retired in 2020.
The 14th Judicial Circuit includes Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort, and Colleton Counties.
Prior to his election, Buckner was an assistant solicitor for the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office since 1997. Before that, he handled criminal, civil, family, and probate matters at his own private practice (1986 to 1997) and was a partner at Smoak, Moody, Buckner & Siegel (1981 to 1986); an attorney at the Wise & Cole Law Firm (1979 to 1981); and an assistant attorney general for the State of South Carolina (1975 to 1979).
Buckner received a B.A. from Wofford College in 1971. He then completed a J.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1975. While a law student, Buckner was a member of the Order of Wig and Robe.
His memberships include the South Carolina Bar, the Colleton County Bar Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association. Buckner also served on the South Carolina Bar’s House of Delegates, the Judicial Qualifications Committee, and the Nominating Committee.
He was born in Walterboro, South Carolina, where he attended Walterboro High School. Buckner and his wife, Janet, have two sons, both of whom are also attorneys. Buckner is a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Walterboro.