South Carolina General Assembly
125th Session, 2023-2024

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 444

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Massey, Climer, Rice, Loftis, Gustafson, Davis, Cash, Corbin, Kimbrell, Verdin, Peeler, Shealy, Bennett, Reichenbach, Garrett, Gambrell, Grooms, Hembree, M. Johnson and Young
Companion/Similar bill(s): 130, 178, 248, 450, 872, 3022, 3447, 4179, 4183
Document Path: SR-0236KM23.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 25, 2023
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: JMSC Reform

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
1/25/2023 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
1/25/2023 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 3)
1/16/2024 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Talley (ch), Malloy, Campsen, Sabb, Senn

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

01/25/2023



A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80(A), RELATING TO THE NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE JUDICIAL MERIT SCREENING COMMISSION MUST SUBMIT THE NAMES OF ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Section 2-19-80(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (A) The commission shall make nominations to the General Assembly of candidates and their qualifications for election to the Supreme Court, court of appeals, circuit court, family court, and the administrative law judge division. It shall review the qualifications of all applicants for a judicial office and select therefrom and submit to the General Assembly the names and qualifications of all of the three candidates whom it considers best qualified for the judicial office under consideration. If fewer than three persons apply to fill a vacancy or if the commission concludes there are fewer than three candidates qualified for a vacancy, it shall submit to the General Assembly only the names and qualifications of those who are considered to be qualified, with a written explanation for submitting fewer than three names.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on May 28, 2024 at 12:24 PM