Judge Michelle M. Hurley was born in Columbia, South Carolina and is a graduate of Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Howard University, Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
After law school, Michelle served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alison Renee Lee, Circuit Court Judge. Her legal career also includes employment as an attorney for Richland County Department of Social Services, attorney and legal trainer for the Children’s Law Center of the University of South Carolina School of Law, assistant director of the DSS Office of Individual & Provider Rights and Administrative Hearings, and associate municipal court judge for the City of Columbia.

Judge Hurley's current and/or past memberships include, the South Carolina Bar Association, the Columbia Lawyers Association, the Black Lawyer's Association, the American Bar Association, and the South Carolina Summary Court Judges Association.  She has also served on numerous committees including, the Children’s Law Committee, the S.C. Bar's Judicial Qualifications Committee, the Children’s Justice Act Task Force, the S.C. Family Court Bench Bar Committee, the School Resource Officer Work Group, the Pro Bono Committee, Advisory Group for Abused and Neglected Delinquent Youth, and the National Judicial Council for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).