| Timothy M. Cain | |
| Office: | Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina |
| Term Start: | June 4, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Robert Bryan Harwell |
| Office1: | Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina |
| Term Start1: | September 26, 2011 |
| Appointer1: | Barack Obama |
| Predecessor1: | Patrick Michael Duffy |
| Birth Name: | Timothy Martin Cain |
| Birth Date: | 19 January 1961 |
| Birth Place: | Seneca, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Anderson University University of South Carolina (BS, JD) |
Timothy Martin Cain (born January 19, 1961) is the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. He was formerly a South Carolina state judge and a law associate of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Cain was born in Seneca, South Carolina. He attended Anderson College in 1979 and 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983 from the University of South Carolina.[1] He then earned a Juris Doctor in 1986 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.[1]
After graduating from law school, Cain worked in private legal practice in Walhalla, South Carolina from 1986 until 1988 (including a stint in 1987 as a public defender in Seneca, South Carolina), and then as an assistant county solicitor in Seneca from 1988 until 1989. He then worked as an associate for a Seneca law firm from 1990 until 1991. Cain then worked as a partner in differently comprised firms in Seneca from 1991 until 1993, 1993 until 1996. 1996 until 1998 and 1998 until 2000.[1] During Cain's time in private practice, he worked alongside future United States Senator Lindsey Graham for about three years.[2] Cain also served as county attorney for Oconee County, South Carolina from 1992 until 2000.[1] In 2000, Cain became a family court judge in Columbia, South Carolina.[1]
On February 16, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Cain to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina that had been vacated by Judge Patrick Michael Duffy who assumed senior status in 2009.[3] The Senate confirmed Cain on September 20, 2011 by a 99–0 vote.[4] He received his commission on September 26, 2011. He became the Chief Judge on June 4, 2024.