Solomon Blatt Jr.

Solomon "Sol" Blatt Jr. (August 20, 1921 – April 20, 2016) was a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and trustee of the University of South Carolina.

Blatt (pronounced /blot/) was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, to Solomon Blatt, Sr., speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and Ethel Green. He attended the University of South Carolina and received his bachelor's degree in 1941. While at the university, Blatt was a member of the Euphradian Society and on the boxing team, competing in the lightweight class.

Blatt enlisted in the Navy after America's entrance into World War II and was commissioned an officer. He served on a destroyer that escorted liberty ships to Europe as well as participating in anti-submarine warfare. After the war, Blatt obtained a J.D. degree in 1946 from the University of South Carolina and he commenced the practice of law in Barnwell for the firm Blatt and Fales; he remained in private practice until 1971. The same year, his father had to resign as a trustee for the University of South Carolina because of a provision in the state constitution prohibiting dual office holding. The elder Blatt nominated his son to the board at just age twenty-five and the General Assembly approved the nomination. The students responded by hanging an effigy of Speaker Blatt at Maxcy Monument with a poem attached that read "King Sol: Through my son I shall rule, with house members as my tools."

As a trustee, Blatt served on the athletic committee and was instrumental in recruiting Frank McGuire as head coach of the men's basketball team. Blatt fully supported the university's withdrawal from the Atlantic Coast Conference in March 1971 because of the conference's strict academic standards and the special exceptions received by the North Carolina schools.

In 1971, through the recommendation of Senator Strom Thurmond, President Nixon nominated Blatt for the vacant judgeship of the District Court for South Carolina, a seat vacated by Donald Stuart Russell. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 26, 1971, and received his commission on May 28, 1971. He served as chief judge from 1986-1990. He assumed senior status on May 7, 1990. His docket consisted primarily of criminal cases. Blatt continued to serve until his death.

Blatt married Carolyn Gayden in 1942 and they had three children. He was a strong supporter of South Carolina athletics and had been a season ticket holder for football games since 1946. Blatt died on April 20, 2016, at his Charleston home.