Judge Paul M. Burch was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1954. He is a lifelong resident of Pageland, South Carolina and is a ninth generation South Carolinian. He is a descendant of John Burch who first settled in the State in 1684. His parents are William Blakeney Burch and Laura Arant Burch and he is the nephew of the late Senator Paul M. Arant.

Judge Burch attended public schools in Pageland and received his Associate, Bachelor, Master and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of South Carolina. He was a member of the Pageland Police Department from 1970 to 1976 serving as Lieutenant-Assistant to the Chief for two years. He was a Regional Vice Chairman of the SC Law Enforcement Officers Association for two years. He was the first graduate in Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster and was a criminal justice instructor for the University for over twelve years. Judge Burch practiced law from 1980 to 1991, and was a partner in the law firm of Henderson, Spencer and Burch.

Judge Burch served for 8 years as Pageland Town Attorney and was elected to the Chesterfield County Council in 1982. He became vice-chairman of the Council in 1984. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1988 and served on the Judiciary Committee until being elected to the bench in 1991.

Judge Burch has served on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, as Vice President of Region III of the Circuit Court Judges Association and as regional representative to the American Bar Association. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Chesterfield County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in all South Carolina Courts and the United States District Court.

Judge Burch is married, has three children and is a member of Pageland United Methodist Church, having served as Chairman of the Administrative Board and Trustee. He is a past master of Mt. Moriah Lodge #58 and is a member of Jamil Shrine Temple.