S 0245 General Bill, By Ford
Similar (H 3184)
Summary: Judicial Merit Selection Commission; candidates, qualifications, vacancies
    A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE AND PROVIDE THAT NO MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE TO SEEK JUDICIAL OFFICE WHILE SERVING ON THE COMMISSION AND FOR ONE YEAR THEREAFTER; TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES AND TO PUBLICIZE VACANCIES IN JUDICIAL OFFICES, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES TO CLARIFY THAT PERSONS DO NOT SEEK TO BE NOMINATED BY THE COMMISSION BUT, RATHER, SEEK JUDICIAL OFFICE; TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-30, AS AMENDED, BY ADDING A PROVISION THAT, WHEN THE COMMISSION FINDS A CANDIDATE UNQUALIFIED, THE CANDIDATE MUST BE FURNISHED A COPY OF THE COMMISSION'S REPORT CONCERNING HIS QUALIFICATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FURTHER THAT THE REPORT MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL; TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-35, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CRITERIA CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION IN DETERMINING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE BY CHANGING THE TERM "MAKING NOMINATIONS" TO "DETERMINING QUALIFICATIONS"; TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR IN EITHER HOUSE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND RELATING TO THE SEEKING OF PLEDGES OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATE IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE FLOOR DURING THE TIME HE IS LISTED AS A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE AND THE ELECTION IS PENDING, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL RELEASE A LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES RATHER THAN RELEASING ITS NOMINEES; TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-80, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE COMMISSION SELECTING THE THREE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR A JUDICIAL OFFICE AS ITS NOMINEES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO RELEASE A LIST OF ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT THE LIST OF CANDIDATES IS BINDING ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO PROVIDE FURTHER CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-90, RELATING TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD FOR THE ELECTION OF JUDGES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION SHALL ANNOUNCE THE LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR EACH JUDICIAL ELECTION.
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01/22/03	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-6
01/22/03	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6