W. Robert Kinard | Attorney

W. ROBERT (BOBBY) KINARD

Bobby Kinard was born and raised in Charleston, and attended public schools and the Citadel. His education was interrupted by the Vietnam War, when he enlisted and served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. Upon his discharge in 1970, he re-enrolled in the Citadel and graduated in 1972. Bobby graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1975.

In 1976, Bobby was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives where he served until 1980. Upon his re-election in 1978, Bobby's colleagues elected him Chairman of the Charleston Delegation. He served under two Governors: James B. Edward and Richard (Dick) Riley. He served on the House Judiciary Committee for four years and was a member of the Constitutional Laws and Election Laws subcommittees.

In 1981, Bobby became the Chief Municipal Judge for the City of North Charleston. He served in that capacity until 1988.

In 1991, Bobby was elected Mayor of North Charleston after a heated, two-year campaign against the twenty-two year incumbent mayor. During this time many changes occurred in North Charleston and Mayor Kinard's Administration is generally considered to be the turning point in the development of North Charleston. Mayor Kinard oversaw the implementation of single member election districts, the construction and opening of the North Charleston Coliseum, and the formation of the development plan for the former Charleston Naval Base closing. In fact, the plan proposed by Bobby Kinard in 1994 is in use today. Many people believe that the fight against the closing of the Naval Base led by Charleston Mayor Riley and Mayor Kinard in 1994 is the reason the Lowcountry fared so well in the 2005 base restructuring.

In 1995, Bobby and his wife and partner, Susan, moved to the Isle of Palms and returned to the full-time practice of law. They now practice in Mt. Pleasant in a comfortable office at the Oak Grove Center.

Bobby and Susan Kinard have three children. Bobby says his children remind him of the three branches of government as formed in the United States Constitution: Robert was born when Bobby was in the South Carolina Legislature and is the legislative kid; Erin was born while Bobby was a municipal judge and is the judicial kid; and Hannah was born was Bobby was the Mayor of North Charleston and is the executive kid.

Few lawyers practicing today have the experience that Bobby Kinard has. He has been a trial lawyer for 30 years, has been elected to and served in all three branches of our government: the legislative, the judicial, and the executive.

In 2001, Bobby returned to the bench, temporarily, when he was asked by the City of Hanahan to serve as Chief Municipal Judge for the City of Hanahan, where he had been prosecuting attorney for eleven years in the 1980's. He served in this capacity until 2003, when he decided he wanted nothing to compete with his desire to practice law full-time.

Having participated in the criminal justice system from all three sides: judge, prosecutor and defense attorney, Bobby is uniquely qualified and experienced to represent clients who face criminal charges ranging from all traffic offenses, from speeding to Driving Under the Influence (DUI); as well as drug-related charges; assault; criminal domestic violence; even, murder. Bobby is one of the few Charleston attorneys who has tried a murder case as a private attorney.

Bobby's unique experience as mayor of a large city has provided him with hands-on experience in municipal law. No law course can match the learning-potential of actually dealing with the day-to-day problems with zoning, land-use development, dealing with police officers and other city personnel. If you are experiencing a problem with your municipal or state government, Bobby Kinard can resolve your problem by drawing from his years of experience in state and municipal government and his legal education.