On December 16, 1875, William J. Whipper, a prominent African American lawyer and legislator, was elected as a circuit court judge in South Carolina by the state legislature. Born free in Pennsylvania in 1834, Whipper was deeply involved in the abolitionist movement before relocating to South Carolina during the Reconstruction era. There, he became a leading figure in politics and law, advocating for civil rights and universal education. ?

Despite his election to the judiciary, Governor Daniel Chamberlain refused to sign Whipper’s commission, effectively preventing him from assuming the judgeship. This action was part of the broader political struggles during Reconstruction, where African American leaders faced significant resistance despite their electoral successes.