Judge Van Slambrook was born in Savannah, Georgia. His father was a pilot in the United States Air Force, which afforded him the opportunity to live all over the world. Ultimately, his family planted roots in the Lowcountry, where he graduated from Goose Creek High School. Thereafter, he attended Clemson University and The University of South Carolina Law School, where he graduated in 1983.

Upon graduating from Law School, he​ joined the Steinberg Law Firm where he began a general practice which focused on litigation, real estate and bankruptcy. He served as President of the Berkeley County Bar Association in 2011 and as a Municipal Judge for the City of Goose Creek from September 2009 until October 2014. He worked continuously with the firm until being sworn in as Master In Equity for Berkeley County in November 2014. In addition to serving as Master in Equity, Judge Van Slambrook presides over the Berkeley County Adult Drug Court and also serves as a Special Circuit Court Judge.

Judge Van Slambrook is married and has three adult children. He is an active member of the St. James United Methodist Church in Goose Creek. He began running marathons in 1990 and has completed more than twenty 26.2-mile races to date. Additionally, he is a ‘triathlete’ (swim, bike, run), and has completed numerous triathlons of varying distances.