Judge's home erupts in flames with family inside after she ruled against Trump and began receiving death threats

Blaze at Judge’s Home Sparks Political Firestorm

On the morning of October 4, 2025, a devastating fire tore through the beachfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein in Edisto Beach, leaving three members of her family hospitalized.

Judge Goodstein herself was not inside the residence at the time, having been out walking her dogs. Her husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold Goodstein, and their son were among those injured, reportedly forced to leap from windows and balconies to escape the inferno. One victim was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina, while the others were transported by ground.

The fire erupted around 11:30 a.m. and quickly engulfed the three-story home, which sits in the exclusive Planters Retreat community. Due to the marshy terrain surrounding the property, emergency responders had to use kayaks to rescue the trapped occupants.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which has not yet confirmed whether it was accidental or arson. However, Chief Justice John Kittredge noted that the fire appeared to have been triggered by an explosion, prompting heightened security measures around the judge and her family.

This tragic incident follows weeks of escalating threats against Judge Goodstein after her controversial September ruling that temporarily blocked the South Carolina Election Commission from releasing voter registration data to the Department of Justice. The DOJ had requested the personal information of over 3.3 million registered voters as part of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Goodstein’s decision was later overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court, but not before drawing fierce criticism from Trump administration officials, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who publicly condemned the ruling.

In the days leading up to the fire, Judge Goodstein reportedly received a barrage of violent threats online. Social media posts from MAGA-affiliated accounts called for “holy hell fire” against judges perceived as obstructing the administration’s agenda. One particularly chilling message read, “Rain Holy hell fire onto these judges who interfere with the Executive branch.” The threats intensified following public remarks from White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who accused “far-left Democrat judges” of shielding what he described as “left-wing terrorism”.

The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of the judiciary amid rising political tensions. Congressman Daniel Goldman (D-NY) condemned the threats and called for accountability, tweeting, “Trump, Stephen Miller, and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein. Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this?” Miller responded by calling Goldman “vile,” further fueling the controversy.

While investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, the timing and context have led many to question whether this was a politically motivated act of intimidation.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has pledged to remain in close communication with law enforcement and has requested increased patrols around judicial residences.

As the investigation continues, the incident stands as a stark reminder of the growing threats faced by members of the judiciary in today’s polarized political climate.