A South Carolina circuit court judge, Diane Goodstein, has spoken out after a devastating fire destroyed her $1.5 million beachfront home over the weekend, leaving her husband and son hospitalised.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning while the 69-year-old judge was walking along the beach in Edisto, is being investigated as a suspected arson attack. Authorities say the blaze may have been triggered by an explosion, though no definitive cause has been confirmed.
Judge Goodstein told the Daily Mail she was “alright” following the fire, which completely consumed the four-bedroom property.
Her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, reportedly jumped from a first-floor window to escape the flames and sustained multiple broken bones.
Their son, Arnold Goodstein II, was also hospitalised, though his condition remains unclear.
The fire comes just weeks after Judge Goodstein issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to obtain sensitive voter registration data of over 3.3 million South Carolina residents.
The decision drew criticism from Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who filed an emergency petition to overturn the ruling.
The South Carolina Supreme Court later reversed the temporary restraining order, citing procedural concerns.
Following the ruling, reports emerged that Judge Goodstein had received death threats.
However, investigators have not established any direct link between the fire and the political backlash surrounding her decision.
South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge confirmed that the fire stemmed from an “apparent explosion” and said the state’s law enforcement division (SLED) had launched an investigation. “Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started,” he said. “Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren.
“The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.”
Democratic Congressman Daniel Goldman has accused Trump’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, of “doxxing” judges who ruled against the Trump administration, claiming such actions endangered lives. Miller denied the allegations, calling them “deeply warped and vile.”
Local authorities have since increased security measures for Judge Goodstein and her family as investigations continue.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division stated that it had found no evidence of a pre-fire explosion or intentional arson as of Monday, but the investigation remains active.
Judge Goodstein, a veteran of the South Carolina judiciary, has served on the bench since 1988. Her ruling in early September temporarily halted the release of voter data, including names, addresses, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers, to the federal government.
The fire has reignited concerns over the safety of judicial officers amid rising political tensions in the United States.
