Isle of Palms resident Rom Reddy is the founder of DOGESC and the Palmetto Revolutionary. One of the principle issues these movements deal with is S.C. Judicial Court reform.

This after his Isle of Palms property was taken by a S.C. administrative judge. While the entire front portion of the property was seized, Reddy is still required to pay state property taxes on it.

Reddy intends to appeal this Isle of Palms property seizure decision.

Rom Reddy, founder of DOGE SC, issued the following statement today in response to the S.C. Administrative Law Court (SCLAC)’s decision to vacate fines and penalties against him related to his efforts to protect and preserve his private property.

The court ruled Reddy was not in “direct violation of any permit” nor had he run afoul of any “regulation, standard or requirement under the Coastal Water and Tidelands Act.” The court further observed that the government had failed to establish jurisdiction in its case against Reddy – a critical component of the broader property rights’ battle Reddy has been fighting for the past two years on behalf of all property owners in the Palmetto State.

This case isn’t about me – it’s about our God-given liberties and our sacred property rights being consistently undermined by unconstitutional regulation, constantly attacked by unchecked agencies and continually threatened by unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats,” Reddy said.

“I just decided enough was enough – that it was time to literally draw a line in the sand.”

While the judge reaffirmed that I have not violated the law – and that the state failed to prove jurisdiction – his ruling nonetheless permits the government, irrespective of jurisdiction, to seek the removal of private property preservation structures if it believes their presence is not in the ‘public interest,'” Reddy continued.

“That determination cannot be allowed to stand. Granting government such unilateral authority over private property is unconstitutional irrespective of jurisdiction, however this court was prohibited by law from ruling on those issues – which is a travesty. Given the serious constitutional issues at stake – issues that will impact every property owner in this state – the Pacific Legal Foundation is joining this case on our behalf and will lead the appeals process. The PLF is a national leader in the fight to protect private property rights, and their involvement highlights just how critical this issue is to every property owner.

As our President has often said, you have to experience the tyranny of government to fully comprehend its power and control. While I have been blessed with the means to fight this, if left unchallenged this order would become established precedent in South Carolina – and would be used as a weapon by the state against those who do not have the means to defend themselves and their property.

That would lead to the greatest confiscation of private land this state has ever seen – and I am not about to let that happen on my watch. Two years ago, this issue opened my eyes to the level of control we have ceded to government. I will not stop fighting until we have reclaimed our God-given rights – not just in this area of government but in all areas where power is being abused.”  Rom Reddy

The Coastal Conservation League glowed over this unjust decision by putting out the following about this Isle of Palms property seizure in a press release.

After months of legal uncertainty, a South Carolina Administrative Law Judge has reaffirmed that a seawall illegally constructed by Isle of Palms property owner Rom Reddy must be removed. The ruling, issued December 30, 2025, upholds an earlier order from October requiring the dismantling of the seawall, which blocks public beach access and accelerates erosion.

The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), on behalf of the Coastal Conservation League, intervened in Reddy’s appeal of the enforcement order issued by the DES for the installation of a hard erosion control structure on Isle of Palms. A five-day trial was held in the spring of 2025.

Judge Ralph King Anderson III’s Amended Final Order requires Reddy to deconstruct the seawall, with removal potentially beginning as early as mid-summer 2026. Judge Anderson imposed a specific timeline and detailed requirements for a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for removal and restoration of the affected beach area.

The order requires Reddy to submit the CAP within 60 days, outlining removal methods, schedules, beach stabilization measures during removal and the use of beach-compatible sand for restoration that complies with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Marine Turtle Conservation Program. Removal must commence within 90 days of CAP approval and be completed within 30 days thereafter.

While the judge rejected nearly all of Reddy’s legal arguments and reaffirmed that the seawall remains illegal and must come down, he did not reinstate the $289,000 fine initially imposed by the state Department of Environmental Services (DES) and declined to issue a definitive finding that the structure lies within statutorily defined beaches.

Rather, Judge Anderson grounded his decision explicitly in the public-interest authority of the state. The Amended Final Order provides far more detailed and prescriptive corrective-action requirements than the October ruling, offering clarity and enforceability for the removal process.

“South Carolina’s coastline is a precious public asset that must be preserved,” said Amy Armstrong, Executive Director of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP).

“This order affirms that illegal seawalls disrupt natural beach dynamics and harm public access. The Court has protected the public interest by mapping out a clear timeline for Reddy’s seawall removal.”

Issues like this Isle of Palms seizure by an administrative court are reasons residents want S.C. Judicial reform.

The court’s ruling is a critical victory for public beach access and coastal ecosystem health. The 1988 state law banning new seawalls was enacted to address severe erosion and preserve the beach environment for future generations.

“Illegal seawalls may seem like a solution for individual property protection, but they ultimately undermine the shoreline we all depend on. SCELP remains dedicated to defending South Carolina’s beaches against harmful development.”

Coastal Conservation League Executive Director Faith Rivers James said, “In this decision, the Court noted that this structure ‘accelerated erosion of the adjacent beach, which adversely affects the public.’  We agree with Judge Anderson’s assessment that ‘the public interests protected by the [Beachfront Management] Act override’ any interest to retain this seawall structure.

The Coastal Conservation League is pleased that the Court’s ruling affirmed the state’s interest in maintaining public access to the beach and ordered that the wall be removed in accordance with a detailed schedule and plan that complies with DNR’s Marine Turtle Conservation Program.” 

Any party may still request reconsideration of the Amended Order or file a notice of appeal in the South Carolina Court of Appeals. The case remains a focal point in the ongoing debate over coastal development, public beach access and climate resilience as rising sea levels and intense storms continue to threaten South Carolina’s shoreline.

SCELP and the CCL will continue to monitor the case closely and advocate for strong enforcement of coastal protection laws.

Issues like this Isle of Palms seizure by an administrative court are reasons residents want S.C. Judicial reform.