Attorney General Alan Wilson restructures legal team, appoints Thomas Hydrick as Solicitor General

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today announced key leadership additions within the Office of the Attorney General, including the appointment of Thomas Hydrick as the state’s new Solicitor General. Hydrick succeeds Robert D. “Bob” Cook, who will continue serving the office as Chief Counsel to the Attorney General, Head of Legal Opinions, and Solicitor General Emeritus. Cook will remain a senior legal advisor to the Attorney General.  

“These changes position our office to better address the growing number of active and high-stakes litigation matters facing our state,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Bob Cook’s decades of service have been invaluable, and I’m grateful he will continue providing trusted counsel. I’m also proud to elevate Thomas Hydrick, a rising legal mind who brings exceptional experience and a strong record of service to this new role.” 

Thomas Hydrick, a native of South Carolina, holds a bachelor's degree from Furman University, a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, and a law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. He has served in the Office of the Attorney General for the past three years as an Assistant Deputy Solicitor General and, prior to that, worked for a large private law firm in Columbia. He previously clerked for the Honorable A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., United States Circuit Judge. 

“It is an honor to serve in this capacity, and I thank Attorney General Wilson for the opportunity to do so. It is a privilege to work alongside the extremely talented attorneys and staff in our office on behalf of the state,” said Hydrick 

Robert D. Cook has been a cornerstone of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office since 1977. In 2013, he was appointed as the state's first Solicitor General, a role in which he has guided the development of legal policy and overseen constitutional litigation. Cook also leads the Opinions Section, providing legal advice to public officials across the state. In 2017, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of 40 years of distinguished public service. 

In addition, Attorney General Wilson announced that J. Emory Smith, who previously served as Deputy Solicitor General, has been promoted to General Counsel to the Office of the Attorney General. Smith began his career in the Attorney General’s Office in 1979 and has handled some of South Carolina’s most complex legal issues. Smith will continue this work as well as be the head legal advisor to the agency’s operations. He is a graduate of Furman University and the University of South Carolina School of Law. 

Joseph Spate, Assistant Deputy Solicitor General since 2023, will now serve as South Carolina’s Deputy Solicitor General.