Andrew J. Savage, III
Andy Savage has handled many complicated and interesting cases throughout the US and as far reaching as Australia and the Middle East.
Notable achievements
Prior to entering private practice in 1981, Andy was a prosecutor for the State of South Carolina, serving as Chief Trial Counsel of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Division. He was elected to two four- year terms as a member of the Charleston County Council, from 1986 to 1994, and he is a retired Lt. Colonel, Judge Advocate General, with the United States Air Force Reserve. Andy was the first South Carolina criminal defense attorney to be board Certified as a Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Andy has held an “AV” rating in Martindale-Hubbell since 1990, has been named yearly in the “Best Lawyers in America” since 1991 in the practice area of Criminal Defense – both white- collar and non-white collar areas. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and has been named yearly as a SuperLawyer since 2008. Andy was the recipient of the 2013 Leadership in Law Award presented by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. A former legal analyst for the Charleston CBS affiliate,he also was the host of the Emmy award winning The Savage Report, a weekly public affairs which broadcast on Comcast cable television. He is a frequent lecturer at South Carolina law schools and professional education programs.
Associations & Memberships
Andy is a member of the Charleston County Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he is a charter member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center and a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. Andy has been appointed to a number of Supreme Court committees during his career including appointments to the Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession and a task force to revise the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure. He is a former Commissioner on the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and is the past Chairman of the Charleston County Aviation Authority.
Education & Background
Andy received an undergraduate degree from Forham University and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. Prior to entering private practice in 1981, Andy was a prosecutor for State of South Carolina, serving as Chief Trial Counsel of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Division.
He was elected to two four-year terms as a member of the Charleston County Council, from 1986 to 1994, and he is a retired Lt. Colonel, Judge Advocate General, with the United States Air Force Reserve.
A former legal analyst for the Charleston CBS affiliate, and the host of the Emmy award winning Savage Report, a weekly public affairs broadcast on Comcast cable television. He is a frequent lecturer at South Carolina law schools and professional education programs.
Personal Interest & Activities
Andy’s hometown is Kingston, New York. He and his wife Cheryl live in Charleston, SC and have four children and ten grandchildren.
At A Glance
Recognition
- 2018 Super Lawyer
- Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Rating
- Fellow – American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow – American Board of Criminal Lawyers
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1991
- Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Legal Advisor to National Child Abuse Defense Resource Center
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Permanent Member
Education
Fordham University, B.A., 1972
University of South Carolina, J.D., 1975
Admissions
Supreme Court of South Carolina (1975)
U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (1976)
Central District of Illinois (2009)
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (1976)
U.S. Court of Appeals for Armed Forces (1976)