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S. 395
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Knotts
Document Path: l:\s-jud\bills\knotts\jud0053.jmk.doc
Introduced in the Senate on February 6, 2007
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Circuit court judges
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/6/2007 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-3
2/6/2007 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-3
2/12/2007 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Moore (ch), Ford, Mescher,
Rankin, Scott
1/24/2008 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Ford, Ritchie,
Knotts, Cleary
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 13, ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO JUDICIAL CIRCUITS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE BE AN ELECTOR OF THE COUNTY AND A RESIDENT OF HIS CIRCUIT FOR ONE YEAR PRECEDING HIS ELECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 13, Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:
"Section 13. The General Assembly shall divide the State into judicial circuits of compact and contiguous territory. For each circuit a judge or judges shall be elected by a joint public vote of the General Assembly; provided, that in any contested election, the vote of each member of the General Assembly present and voting shall be recorded. He shall hold office for a term of six years, and at the time of one year preceding his election, he shall be an elector of a county of and a resident of the circuit where he intends to preside as a judge, and during his continuance in office he shall reside in, the circuit of which he is judge. The General Assembly may by law provide for additional circuit judges, to be assigned by the Chief Justice. Such additional circuit judges shall be elected in the same manner and for the same term as provided in the preceding paragraph of this section for other circuit judges, except that residence in a particular county or circuit shall not be a qualification for office."
SECTION 2. The proposed amendment in SECTION 1 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:
"Must Section 13, Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to require that a judicial candidate running for a specific circuit court seat be an elector of a county and a resident of the circuit where he intends to preside as a judge for one year preceding his election?
Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."
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