CJCC names magistrate new director

Listen to this article

The Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has named County Magistrate Judge Ellen Steinberg their new director.

Steinberg will begin her new role on Aug.12. Prior to becoming a magistrate judge, she worked as an assistant solicitor for the ninth circuit, an assistant public defender, a family court attorney, a prosecutor for the Department of Social Services, and as a teacher in the paralegal department at Trident Technical College. She was also a founding member of the CJCC and a prior CJCC vice chairwoman, according to a news release.

Steinberg is a founding member of the Tri-County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, serves on several local boards, and participates in attorney and judge mentorship programs, the release said.

“We are excited to welcome Judge Steinberg to Charleston County’s Public Safety Directorate,” Deputy County Administrator of Public Safety Eric Watson said in the news release. “I am confident she is the right person to continue to carry out the CJCC’s mission to improve public safety and better this community.”

Steinberg replaces Kristy Pierce Danford who launched and led the CJCC since 2015.  

“Judge Steinberg’s experience practicing law, serving on the CJCC, and as a judge makes her an ideal director for the CJCC,” the council’s board chair, Jason Bruder, said in the release.

  The CJCC is a collaboration of elected and senior officials, law enforcement leaders, judicial and court leadership, behavioral health professionals, victim and legal advocates, and various community leaders. The mission of the CJCC is to assist in making sustainable, data-driven improvements to Charleston County’s criminal justice system.

“I am honored to be chosen for this position and am passionate about the CJCC’s vision and mission,” said Judge Steinberg. “I am excited to work with this Council to identify challenges and continue to improve the criminal justice system.”