Thomas E."Tommy" Pope is a partner with Elrod Pope Law Firm, P.A., a workers' compensation and personal injury practice in Rock Hill, South Carolina.   He is also the former Solicitor for the 16th Judicial Circuit (South Carolina's Union County and York County)

          Tommy received a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of South Carolina School of Business in 1984 and a Juris Doctorate from the U.S.C. School of Law in 1987. He also attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy where he graduated with honors.

          Tommy has been a prosecutor since 1988, and was elected Solicitor in 1993.  As an attorney, he is a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar and is admitted to practice in Federal District Court and the United States Supreme Court.

          Tommy Pope has an extensive law enforcement background and brings over 25 years of courtroom experience to the practice.  Tommy was sworn in as 16th Circuit Solicitor in January of 1993. Under his guidance the 16th Circuit has consistently led the State in caseload management, providing effective and timely prosecution of criminal cases.

          In 1999, Tommy Pope received the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the USC Law School Alumni Association, recognizing competence, integrity, ethics and superior performance in his profession.  Most recently Tommy was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, our State's highest civilian honor for his dedication and service to the people of South Carolina

          Tommy is a Former President of the South Carolina Solicitors' Association and former Chairman of the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination. He has also served as an instructor for the National College of District Attorneys at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. He has frequently lectured to State Prosecutors' Associations across the country.

          He has frequently been called upon to provide legal commentary by the various national media outlets and is most often recognized for his prosecution of Susan Smith in Union County, South Carolina for the drowning death of her two children.