Mo Abusaft
Lawyer
Monier “Mo” Abusaft is a graduate of Wofford College and Vanderbilt University Law School. At Wofford, his interest in ministry led him to graduate Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. Among Mo’s many activities during college, he was a summer missionary at Camp Cedine Ministries—being recognized as Cedine’s Missionary of the Year in 2007. He also served as President of his beloved fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., and was a member of the Wofford College Football team.
After earning his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt, he returned to Spartanburg to be State Circuit Court Judge J. Mark Hayes’s law clerk. Mo then became South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Costa Pleicones law clerk. After leaving the office of the Chief Justice, Mo became a Public Defender in both the 16th and 7th Circuit Public Defenders’ Office. In May 2020, Mo started the Law Office of Mo Abusaft where he serves criminal-defense, personal-injury, and civil rights clients.
Mo is the recipient of numerous fellowships and appointments. He is a graduate of the Spartanburg County Foundation’s Grassroots Leadership Development Institute, and a 2019 graduate of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Accelerator. Mo is also a proud 2022 graduate of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s James E. Clyburn Political Fellowship. He is also a graduate of the American Association for Justice’s Leadership Academy and serves on the South Carolina Association for Justice’s Board of Governors as the Co-Chair of the Civil Rights Section.
Beyond his professional career, Mo is involved in multiple nonprofits and ministries. He is the former President of the Spartanburg Branch of the NAACP. Along with his work with the NAACP, Mo is the founder and Board Chairman of Spartanburg Juneteenth Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit responsible for conducting Spartanburg Juneteenth—an annual event celebrating the end of slavery in the United States and the achievements of African Americans. He also serves his church community as the General Counsel for the historic Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
Mo comes from a politically engaged family and on January 1, 2021, took office as Spartanburg County Council District 1 Representative. He represents 55,000 Spartanburg Citizens on Spartanburg’s Southside, Northside, Una, Arkwright, portions of Moore, and portions of Roebuck.
Mo has been blessed to have had incredible mentors in his legal career. Judge J. Mark Hayes and Chief Justice Costa Pleicones gave him the unique perspective of being behind the bench making decisions that decide the fate of real people. Along with these two incredible jurists, Mo was mentored by Bobby Lee Cook--one of the greatest trial lawyers who ever lived.
Bobby Lee Cook was widely considered one of greatest trial lawyers to ever practice. Like Mo he attended Vanderbilt University Law School and had an national and international practice centered in small town Summerville, Ga where Mo finished his high school career. While attending Vanderbilt University Law School, Mo asked Mr. Cook for a summer internship and their relationship continued until Mr. Cook's passing at the age of 94. Mr. Cook tried over 300 murder trials winning nearly 90 percent of them. Mr. Cook's legal career inspired James Brendt's Bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the TV series Matlock.
On a more personal note, Mo is a competitive barbecue enthusiast who competes in multiple barbecue competitions a year. When not participating in these activities, he enjoys spending time with his family and church community at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
Monier Abusaft
Attorney