Judge Joseph M. Strickland was born in 1955 in Abbeville, South Carolina. Raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Judge Strickland completed his secondary education at Keenan High School in 1973. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1977. In 1981, Judge Strickland received his Juris Doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Upon his graduation from Vanderbilt University Law School, he served as a Second Assistant Parliamentarian in the United States Senate from 1981 to 1984. He was employed in 1984 as a law clerk to the Honorable Matthew J. Perry of the United States District Court, District of South Carolina until 1985. From 1985 to 1989, he was employed by the firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley, & Scarborough in Columbia until he was appointed as the Master-In-Equity for Richland County where he has served since 1989.

Judge Strickland is licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. He is admitted to practice law before the United States District Court in the District of South Carolina; the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

Judge Strickland is married and has one child.