Judge Michael Scott Rankin was born in Wilson, North Carolina in 1965 to Clint and Cynthia Rankin. He grew up in Gastonia and Lincolnton, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He then received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1993.

Judge Rankin was a Law Clerk for Jack B. Swerling from 1992 to 1993 and was an associate with D. Kenneth Baker, P.A. in Darlington from 1993 to 1995. He also served on the Darlington County Public Defender Board from 1994 to 1995. In May 1995,
Judge Rankin opened his solo law practice in Camden where he practiced in the areas of Family Law and Personal Injury. He worked as a Guardian ad Litem and is also a certified Family Court Mediator. Judge Rankin is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, as well as the Kershaw County Bar Association, where he served as President from 1995 to 1997. Judge Rankin also served as Kershaw County Public Defender from 1998 to 2001. He was later appointed as Magistrate for Kershaw County, serving part time from 2006 to 2019.

Judge Rankin has been highly involved in the Kershaw County community. He served as Chairman of the Indian Waters Council – Friends of Scouting fundraising campaign (1996-1999), United Way of Kershaw County Board of Directors (1998-2000) and was Co-Chair of their Professional Division (1999). Additionally, Judge Rankin served on the Board of Directors of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce (2003-2008), Habitat for Humanity of Kershaw County (2000-2007), Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (2009-2012), as well as Camden Country Club (2015-2018), and served as their President (2017-2018). Judge Rankin is a proud member of the Camden Bulldog Club and Founder and Co-Chair of the Camden High School Hall of Fame (2016-2017).

Judge Rankin has been married to Charlotte Wallace Rankin since 1990 and they have two sons. He is an active member of Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church in Camden, and has served as an Adult Sunday School Teacher in addition to serving on the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, Laity/Nominations, and Chair of Lyttleton Learning Place. Judge Rankin is an avid golfer and loves to travel with his family.