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She’s the top prosecutor in SC: York Deputy Solicitor Miller honored with state award

Longtime York County Deputy Solicitor Betty Ann Miller has been awarded South Carolina’s highest honor for excellence in prosecution.

Miller received the annual Ernest F. Hollings award last week at the conference for the state’s prosecutors. She was lauded for her work in criminal prosecution and for training prosecutors throughout the state over much of the last three decades in her career at the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Miller, second in command at the solicitor’s office, is the highest-ranking female prosecutor in the office that covers York and Union counties. The office handles thousands of criminal court cases each year.

Miller started in the Union office in 1995, then soon was in charge of that county’s prosecutions before moving to the larger York office in 2000. The state’s 46 counties are divided into 16 judicial circuits.

Miller was selected by her prosecutor peers from across South Carolina.

Miller said the award is humbling and a credit to those who work alongside her seeking justice for victims and safety for the public.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to work in the 16th Circuit Solicitor;s Office the past 27 years,” Miller said. “I am grateful to Solicitor Brackett for his leadership and unwavering support. And, I am grateful for my wonderful colleagues both past and present.”

Miller was nominated by 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett, as well as the sheriffs of both York and Union counties, all the police chiefs in York County, and even a York County Circuit Court judge. The officials lauded her skills in court and in mentoring and managing younger prosecutors.

Brackett said in nominating Miller that her leadership, initiative, and drive are without peer.

“She is the antithesis of those who can only see reasons why things won’t work. Her eyes only see solutions,” Brackett said.

Miller handles the administration of the office in addition to her own caseload. More, Miller was instrumental in coordinating the effort to keep the courts moving during the COVID-19 pandemic when trials were postponed for more than a year in South Carolina, officials said.