In an announcement Monday that stunned many in South Carolina's legal and political worlds, York County's top prosecutor said he is resigning effective Oct. 31. Pope vaulted to the national stage when he sought the death penalty against child killer Susan Smith of Union in 1995.

Pope has been 16th Circuit solicitor for the past 14 years but wants "a new challenge." Pope will open a law practice in York County with Phil Smith, another prosecutor from the solicitor's office. Pope will handle mainly civil litigation while Smith handles criminal cases.

Although just 43, Pope is the fourth-longest serving prosecutor in the state. He rose from young prosecutor to national stature and remains one of South Carolina's most famous conservative law and order spokesmen. Conservatives still mention Pope as a potential candidate for statewide and even national office.

An unsuccessful run at the dean's job at the Columbia-based National Advocacy Center for teaching young prosecutors earlier this year prompted Pope to consider making a new mark other than as prosecutor. Pope said he has run his 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office with integrity and fairness and expects those values to transfer to private business. Although prosecutors do not represent crime victims, Pope has made a name for himself nationally by pushing for victim's rights and tough sentencing.

"I would like to build a firm that stands for those values," he said. "I have tried to help people along the way. Maybe I can touch even more lives this way."

Political future?

Although Pope said running for judge after a couple of years in private life "is probably not in the cards," he did keep open the possibility of a political run for Statehouse, attorney general, governor, or even Congress.

"Tommy Pope has an unlimited political future if he chooses to get back in," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. who has known Pope, a Republican, for almost two decades. "He is the definition of a public servant. He carries himself equally well in the White House or at the general store. He is respected by friend and foe in the courtroom, and his ethics are beyond question. When he appears on national television, he's represented our state well and made all of us proud of South Carolina. He's the future of the Republican Party in many ways."

Pope fought against domestic violence and video poker while representing the state in the highest-profile cases while still looking out for the little guy, said Henry McMaster, S.C. attorney general.

Son of late York County Sheriff Elbert Pope, Pope at 30 as one of the youngest solicitors ever elected in South Carolina. Since then he has ramrodded through the courts and political scene using his mix of political moxie, oratorical flair and courtroom earnestness.

After the Smith case showed Pope had the looks, quick wit and style to be a television stalwart, Pope became a national regular on courts TV shows and icon for conservatives who were looking for a spokesman who mixed small-town charm with political muscle. Pope became a media darling because he was savvy, articulate and comported himself well under the glare of the spotlight, said Karen Kedrowski, political science chair at Winthrop University and an expert on politics and the media.

Pope ran unopposed the last two elections in 2004 and 2000. Democrats have conceded for years that Pope is a rising star of the GOP. Pope "surely" would be a viable candidate for higher office, said Dick Harpootlian, former chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party.

The solicitor's office handles almost all felony prosecution. Pope inherited a prosecutor's office besieged by the worst backlog of cases in the state, then transformed the office into a model for the rest of the state, said state Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill.

After the Smith case -- Pope sought the death penalty but lost -- he handled several more high-profile cases while instituting new programs like drug courts and domestic violence prosecution. Pope sent cop killer Mar-reece Hughes to death row just weeks after Smith was given a life sentence, and also won a death sentence against James Robertson of Rock Hill after Robertson killed his parents.

Pope has weathered a few political and courtroom storms, too. He took some heat from some sides -- he claims unwarranted -- for using the Smith case for political gain. Then he was victorious in a civil suit filed by the NAACP over his handling of the investigation of the Sterling Spann case.

A special election after November will not be needed to fill the seat, Pope said. Trey Walker, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the office issued an opinion for another solicitor's office in 2003 that agrees with the position that no special election is required.

Pope has asked Gov. Mark Sanford to appoint Deputy Solicitor Kevin Brackett to fill the rest of the term. The state Senate would then have to ratify the decision. Pope's four-year term ends in 2008.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said Pope has briefed the governor about the decision. The governor will take into account Pope's endorsement of Brackett, Sawyer said.

Brackett, 41, second in command the past 11 years for York and Union counties, said, "I am deeply honored and flattered that Tommy thinks I'm man enough to fill his wingtips. He's done more than his fair share to make his community a safer place."

The governor certainly would take into account Pope's recommendation that Brackett succeed him, state Sen. Wes Hayes said.

Brackett said he is interested in running as a Republican for the solicitor's job in 2008 if appointed this fall.

Tommy Pope education and work timeline

1980 Graduated from Rock Hill High School 1981 Hired at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. He first answered telephones, later worked as an agent and legal adviser. 1983 Graduated from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy 1984 Graduated from the University of South Carolina with a management degree 1987 Graduated from USC with a law degree 1988 Hired as an assistant solicitor for the 11th Judicial Circuit 1991 Hired at the York County Sheriff's Office. He worked as a detective and legal adviser. 1993 Began his duties as 16th Circuit solicitor after he was elected the year before Sources: The Herald archives and Tommy Pope resume