Judge Griffith was born in Saluda County to R.C. Griffith and Mary Campbell Griffith. He attended Saluda public schools and the University of South Carolina. He served in the United States Army in 1918. He graduated from Georgetown University with an LL.B. in 1922 and an LL.M. in 1923. He was awarded its J.D. in 1972.
He practiced law in Newberry with the Honorable Eugene S. Blease from 1924 until 1926 and again from 1934 until 1945, after the latter’s retirement as Chief Justice.
He was twice elected without opposition to the South Carolina General Assembly and often sat as an Acting Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. He was Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit from 1945 to 1967.
In 1931, he married Bertie Lee Hambright and they had two lawyers sons. He was a Methodist churchman, a lay reader and a Bible teacher.
Quiet, unassuming, fair and even-handed, he controlled his Court by the force of his integrity and his deep insight into the law. He upheld the best judicial traditions, presiding with dignity, patience, firmness and poise.
Courteous to and considerate of all, he expeditiously dispatched the business of the Court.
An outstanding Trial Judge.