About this episode

Dr. Jermaine Johnson discusses the dual justice systems in South Carolina and his personal experiences with them.

Investigative journalists ⁠⁠Mandy Matney⁠⁠ and ⁠Liz Farrell⁠⁠ were honored to sit down with Dr. Jermaine Johnson — basketball player turned state representative for parts of Kershaw & Richland Counties, now a candidate for governor of South Carolina. But this conversation isn’t really about a campaign or politics. It’s about our justice system, and the uncomfortable truth that South Carolina runs two of them: one for the powerful and well-connected, and one for everybody else. Jermaine has lived inside both. He talks candidly about being homeless as a teenager, about being a young father trapped in a family court system with no lawyer and no fair shot, and about the men he watched get jailed for child support they had already paid. Dr. Johnson explains why South Carolina’s way of electing judges is broken, why a decades-old mug shot keeps resurfacing, and why courage is in such short supply under the State House dome. It’s an honest, hopeful, occasionally infuriating conversation about fixing what’s rigged. Explore Dr. Jermaine Johnson's campaign for South Carolina governor 🗳️ facebook.com/DrJermaineJohnson instagram.com/drjermainejohnson ☕ Cups Up! ⚖️ Episode References Read…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell

Guest: Dr. Jermaine Johnson

Topics covered

• justice system
• politics
• election of judges
• child support
• homelessness
• courage

Keywords

• justice system
• South Carolina
• Dr. Jermaine Johnson
• child support
• homelessness
• politics
• election
• courage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: South Carolina, State House, Post and Courier, S.C. Code

Books & works: Turner v. Rogers

More episodes of Cup Of Justice

• COJ #180 - A Tale of Two Subpoenas: Inside Mandy’s Civil Contempt Hearing + A Look At Alex Murdaugh’s Plan For New Trial · May 19, 2026 · 59 min
• COJ #179 - Fight For Our Legacy: Mandy Matney Braces For Contempt Hearing While Eric Bland Defends Law License · May 12, 2026 · 1h 9m

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