Judicial Reform

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TWO MEMBERS MUST BE APPOINTED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-30, RELATING TO JMSC HEARINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CANDIDATE MAY NOT WITHDRAW HIS CANDIDACY AFTER THE JMSC BEGINS ITS INVESTIGATION INTO HIS QUALIFICATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-35, RELATING TO CRITERIA FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND CONSIDERATION BY THE JMSC SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT CONSIDER ANY INFORMATION FROM ANONYMOUS SOURCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-70, RELATING TO PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN PEOPLE BEING ELECTED TO A JUDGESHIP, SO AS TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON RELATED TO A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY WITHIN THE SECOND DEGREE FROM BEING ELECTED JUDGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ARE SUBMITTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHEN AN INCUMBENT JUDGE MAY WITHDRAW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION BY THE JMSC.