A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT MAGISTRATES MUST BE LICENSED ATTORNEYS AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 22-1-10(B)(2) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    (c) On and after July 1, 2026, no person is eligible for an initial appointment to hold the office of magistrate who is not at the time of his appointment: (i) a citizen of the United States and of this State, (ii) has not been a resident of this State for at least five years, (iii) has not attained the age of twenty-one years upon his appointment, and (iv) is not a licensed attorney in South Carolina. However, a county with a population of less than seventy-five thousand is exempt from the provisions of subsubitem (iv) and the magistrate must have received a four-year baccalaureate degree.

 

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

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