A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO THE NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES BE SUBMITTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY for consideration, AND THAT THE COMMISSION PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION to A CANDIDATE FOUND NOT QUALIFIED.

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 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.If the commission finds a candidate not qualified for the judicial office sought, the commission must provide the candidate a written explanation regarding the commission's finding.

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

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