Judicial Merit Selection Commission

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF TITLE 2, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION MEMBERS, INITIAL TERMS, AND SUBSEQUENT TERMS; TO AMEND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP TO TWELVE MEMBERS, INCLUDING FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; TO PROVIDE A QUORUM IS SEVEN MEMBERS, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO PROVIDE FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS AND TERM LIMITS OF MEMBERS; TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS BE LIVE STREAMED EXCEPT WHEN THE COMMISSION IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION; TO ESTABLISH SET TIMES FOR THE RELEASE OF REPORTS AND THE SEEKING OF PLEDGES AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT OF QUALIFICATIONS SHALL OCCUR NO EARLIER THAN TWELVE DAYS AFTER NOMINEES HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NOMINEES RELEASED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THREE TO SIX; TO REQUIRE MIDTERM REVIEWS OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES AND PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR TO CONDUCT THE REVIEW; TO REQUIRE THE RETENTION OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS; TO PROHIBIT VOTE COUNTING BEFORE THE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT; TO REQUIRE THE REPORT TO INCLUDE THE PARTICULAR REASONS WHEN CANDIDATES WERE FOUND NOT QUALIFIED; TO PROVIDE TWENTY-TWO DAYS MUST ELAPSE BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION'S NOMINATIONS AND THE ELECTIONS FOR THESE JUDGESHIPS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT NOTHING SHALL PREVENT A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FROM REJECTING A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF MASTER-IN-EQUITY AND DIRECTING THE COMMISSION TO REOPEN THE SCREENING PROCESS. - RATIFIED TITLE