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TO AMEND SECTION 2-19-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF JUDGES BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE INDIVIDUAL VOTE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BE RECORDED FOR EACH ELECTION, TO PROVIDE THAT A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT ACCEPTS A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATE OR THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATE'S FAMILY MUST RECUSE HIMSELF FROM VOTING IN THE JUDICIAL ELECTION INVOLVING THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATE, AND TO REQUIRE A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO IS A LICENSED ATTORNEY TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM VOTING IN A JUDICIAL ELECTION FOR A COURT IN WHICH HE PRACTICES LAW.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 2-19-90 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 2-19-90. The General Assembly shall meet in joint session for the election of judges. The date and time for the joint session shall must be set by concurrent resolution upon the recommendation of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. The Chairman of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall announce the commission's nominees list of qualified candidates for each judicial race, and no further nominating or seconding speeches shall be allowed by members of the General Assembly. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote of the members of the General Assembly voting in joint session. The individual vote of each member of the General Assembly present and voting must be recorded for each election. A member who has accepted a campaign contribution from a judicial candidate or a family member of a judicial candidate shall recuse himself from voting in a judicial election involving that judicial candidate. A member of the General Assembly who is a licensed attorney who practices law in the courts of this State shall recuse himself from voting in a judicial election for a court in which he practices law."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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