Who is Arnold Goodstein? Husband of South Carolina Judge Diane Goodstein whose house was burned to ground

A fire engulfed the house of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein on Saturday (October 4, 2025). At the time when the blaze erupted and burned the home to the ground, three people, including her husband Arnold Goodstein, was trapped inside.

Diane Goodstein, 69, was walking on a beach with her dogs at the time of the incident, Tom Peterson, a resident, told The Post and Courier. The individuals were reached by emergency workers in kayaks, according to the St. Paul’s Fire District.

Arnold was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston after he appeared to have sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs, and feet following his fall, FitsNews, citing sources close to Goodstein’s family. The condition of all three escapees wasn’t immediately known.


According to a message sent on Saturday afternoon from S.C. chief justice John Kittredge, the fire stemmed from an “apparent explosion… that resulted in a fire that destroyed the home.”

“Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started,” Kittredge wrote. “Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.”

Who is Arnold Goodstein

Arnold Goodstein has served in the House and the South Carolina Senate for different terms in the 1970s, NY Post reported, citing public records. He was a Democrat representing Charleston County, The Nerve reported.

He also led Summerville Homes, a large home-building business that ceased operations in 2008 and filed for $61 million bankruptcy, according to reports. Diane Goodstein and her husband, Arnold, share two children, Arnold Samuel Goodstein II and Eve Schafer Goodstein.

Born on April 17, 1944, in Florence, Arnold grew up in North Charleston, where he attended North Charleston High School, according to scstatehouse.gov. He graduated from Davidson College and received his law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Arnold was president of his high school’s student body and excelled at Davidson College with leadership roles in ROTC and honor court. After earning his law degree cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1971, Arnold served as a decorated combat advisor in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Stars and being wounded at the Tet Offensive.