Columbia College Congratulates Kaymani D. West '97

Alumna Receives Federal Judicial Appointment

Columbia College alumna Kaymani D. West '97 has been appointed a United States Magistrate Judge for South Carolina, Florence Division. She begins her new duties in January 2012. Ms. West is currently a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP who practices in Columbia in the area of litigation, including product liability, insurance defense, and pharmaceutical litigation.

Ms. West earned a bachelor of arts in public affairs, summa cum laude, from Columbia College in 1997. She achieved a 4.0 GPA in the College's evening program, while raising two children and working full-time as a technical writer. She received a full merit scholarship to attend University of South Carolina Law School.

A member of the South Carolina Bar, Ms. West is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Prior to joining the Firm, she served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph F. Anderson Jr., U.S. District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina.

Ms. West also completed an externship at the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office where she served as Pro Bono Special Prosecutor. This service allowed Ms. West the opportunity to prosecute criminal domestic violence cases on behalf of the State of South Carolina.

Ms. West is a member of the American Bar Association and was the recipient of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2001-02 Minorities in the Profession Committee scholarship.