Fire Breaks Out at Judge Diane Goodstein’s Home in South Carolina — Here’s What We Know
Just over a month after issuing a high-profile ruling on voter data privacy, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein faced an unexpected personal crisis: a massive fire that consumed her family’s marshfront home in Edisto Beach. The three-story residence, located at 18 Planters Retreat in the gated Jeremy Cay Community on Edisto Island, was destroyed in a blaze that began on the morning of Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Judge Goodstein had been walking her dogs along the shoreline when the fire erupted. Thick black smoke quickly filled the sky, and witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion moments before flames engulfed the home. Her husband, Arnold Goodstein, a former state senator and Vietnam War veteran, along with at least two family members, were trapped inside. In a desperate attempt to escape, Arnold jumped from the back of the burning home into the marshland below.
Neighbors and emergency responders mounted a dramatic rescue, using ropes and a canoe to pull Arnold and two others from the swamp. According to the St. Paul Fire District, all three sustained serious injuries, including multiple broken bones, and were transported to nearby hospitals, with at least one requiring treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. Witnesses described the home as “completely engulfed in flames” within minutes, highlighting the fire’s intensity.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) immediately launched an investigation. While the official cause remains undetermined, Chief Justice John Kittredge noted that the blaze appeared to result from an explosion inside the home. Arson has not been ruled out, and investigators are carefully examining the property, including debris, wiring, and structural elements, for any clues regarding the fire’s origin.
The timing of the incident has raised further concern. Just weeks earlier, Judge Goodstein had issued a temporary restraining order blocking the South Carolina Election Commission from releasing private voter registration information to the U.S. Department of Justice, a decision that sparked both praise and political criticism. In the days following the fire, it emerged that Judge Goodstein had previously received multiple threats, some potentially connected to her rulings in politically sensitive cases.
As authorities work to determine the cause of the fire, additional security measures have been implemented around Judge Goodstein and her family. The Edisto Island community remains in shock, rallying around the family while questions persist about whether the fire was accidental or intentional.