Judge Douglas L. Novak was born in Livingston, New Jersey to Joseph and Judith Novak; the second of six (6) children.  His parents and younger brother are all practicing Attorneys, and his Father served as a Judge for many years.  Judge Novak graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Tulane University School of Law in 1993. 

Upon graduation Judge Novak worked as a special grant attorney in the Aiken County Public Defender's Office representing juveniles in Family Court.  He later joined the Solicitor's staff in the 2nd Circuit where in addition to prosecuting criminal cases in the Court of General Sessions, he also covered the circuit prosecuting juvenile adjudications in the Family Court.  Judge Novak later served as legal counsel to former Governor David M. Beasley and managed the Solicitor's Office in the 9th Judicial Circuit before settling into private practice primarily in the Family Courts of our state as a litigator, Certified Family Court Mediator, and Guardian ad Litem.  In addition, Judge Novak was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the South Carolina Senate in 2012 to serve the citizens of Beaufort County as Magistrate, a position he held for eight (8) years before being elected to the Family Court bench.

Judge Novak has served in a host of local capacities within his community from working on the 14th Circuit Fee Arbitration Board and judging South Carolina Bar mock trial competitions, to serving as the Chairman of the Beaufort County Median Beautification Committee and annual volunteer work as a Co-Chair at the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament.  Judge Novak is an Eagle Scout, has been rated as AV Preeminent by his peers, and is a recipient of the prestigious Order of The Palmetto.

Judge Novak is licensed to practice before all courts in the State of South Carolina, in addition to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Judge Novak was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the position of Family Court Judge, Seat 2, for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit on February 5, 2020.