Judicial Merit Selection Commission reform

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-10, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION AND THEIR TERMS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND PROVIDE STAGGERED TERMS FOR THE NEW SEVEN-MEMBER COMMISSION, AND TO DELETE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-20, RELATING TO JUDICIAL VACANCIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-35, RELATING TO JUDICIAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND INVESTIGATION OF CANDIDATES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-70, RELATING TO PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND PLEDGES, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE CANVASSING OF VOTES BY A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A CANDIDATE BEFORE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT IS NINETY-SIX HOURS AFTER THE LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IS INITIALLY RELEASED, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO THE NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE COMMISSION'S PROCESS FROM NOMINATION OF THREE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE RELEASE OF A LIST OF ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THREE WEEKS BETWEEN THE RELEASE OF THE LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ELECTION FOR THE JUDGESHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-90, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE IT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO VOTE IN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR A MEMBER TO RECUSE HIMSELF, TO PROVIDE A MEMBER MAY REQUEST A WRITTEN ETHICS COMMITTEE OPINION FROM THE APPROPRIATE BODY REGARDING WHEN RECUSAL MAY BE NECESSARY, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 1-3-240, RELATING TO REMOVAL OF OFFICERS BY GOVERNOR, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION IN THE PURVIEW OF THE STATUTE REGARDING REMOVAL ONLY FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIED REASONS.