FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2024

THE SENATE DELIVERS ON JUDICIAL SELECTION REFORM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, the South Carolina Senate approved bipartisan judicial selection reform measures to increase public confidence and prioritize transparency in the selection of state judges.

“S. 1046 gives the Governor a meaningful role in the selection of judges, requires all public hearings to be livestreamed, limits Judicial Merit Selection Commission members to nonconsecutive terms, and reduces the ability of the JMSC to manipulate results,” said Senator Wes Climer. “These are wins for South Carolina.”

Also included in the bill is a provision to require candidates to be elected by a majority vote in both the House and the Senate, instead of a simple majority of all legislators. This measure will improve representation and prevent judges from being elected without a single Senate vote.

Senator Luke Rankin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, added: “Increasing transparency in the selection of judges will instill greater confidence in the process. I am pleased with this bipartisan legislation to fix what is broken and what is perceived to be broken in the screening of judicial candidates.”

Senate Bill 1046 is expected to receive a third reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

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