South Carolina § 2-19-10 - Meetings; rules.

§ 2-19-10. Meetings; rules.

When an election is to be held by the General Assembly in Joint Session, for members of the judiciary, the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission, composed of twelve members, shall consider the qualifications of the candidates. The commission shall meet at least once annually and at other times as may be designated by the chairman. The commission, at its first meeting and then annually, shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman who shall serve for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified, and adopt rules necessary to the purposes of the commission. These rules shall address, among other things:

(1) the confidentiality of records and other information received concerning candidates for judicial office;

(2) the conduct of proceedings before the commission;

(3) receipt of public statements in support of or in opposition to any of the candidates;

(4) procedures to review the qualifications of retired judges for continued judicial service;

(5) contacting incumbent judges regarding their desire to seek reelection;

(6) prohibition against candidates communicating with individual members of the commission concerning the qualifications of candidates unless specifically authorized by the commission; and

(7) format and use of anonymous surveys by the commission.

Seven members of the commission constitute a quorum at all meetings.

HISTORY: 1975 (59) 122; 1996 Act No. 391, Part I, SECTION 1; 2019 Act No. 1 (S.2), SECTION 21, eff January 31, 2019; 2024 Act No. 219 (S.1046), SECTION 1, eff July 1, 2025.

Effect of Amendment

2019 Act No. 1, SECTION 21, in (B), rewrote (2) and inserted (3).

2024 Act No. 219, SECTION 1, rewrote the section.