Judge Grace Gilchrist Knie was born in Edgefield, South Carolina. She is the daughter of James W. Gilchrist, Sr., and Elizabeth H. Gilchrist.

Judge Knie attended primary and secondary schools in Edgefield County and received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Columbia College in 1986.  While attending Columbia College, she was on the President’s List and Dean’s List for four years. She was a Harry Truman Scholarship finalist for South Carolina, a Fellow of the Center for the Study of the Presidency in Washington, D.C., and a representative to The Washington Center for Women’s Development.  In 1989, she graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

While in undergraduate school  and law school she was active in student government, including having served as President of Senate and a member of the May Court at Columbia College, and as Vice President of the Student Government Association in Law School. She also maintained several jobs to pay for her undergraduate and law school education.

In 1989-1990, she served as a law clerk for Resident Circuit Judge James B. Stephen of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. She first practiced as an Associate for Bruce Foster, P.A. from 1990-1992.  She thereafter practiced as a sole practitioner from 1992-2017 and served as the City Prosecutor for the City of Spartanburg, a part-time position, at the same time for 15 years.  She received the Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rating, and was a member of Super Lawyers

Judge Knie was a former President and Executive Committee member of the Spartanburg County Bar Association.  She was Chairman of the Spartanburg Cinderella Prom Project of the Spartanburg Bar Association from 2008-2013. She  served as a member of the South Carolina Legal Services Board as the representative for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

Judge Knie is married to Spartanburg attorney Patrick E. Knie and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg. She and her husband live in Spartanburg County where they care for their numerous rescue animals.

Judge Knie was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly on February 1, 2017, to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable Roger L. Couch, Resident Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Seat 2.