Two women, one man advance in South Carolina Supreme Court race

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- A new justice will join the South Carolina Supreme Court this year, and the state’s judicial vetting panel has named the three candidates in contention.

South Carolina is one of only two states that appoint its judges through the legislature.

This is done through a process in which a 10-member panel, known as the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC), screens applicants and then presents a pool of qualified candidates to the General Assembly for consideration.

Court of Appeals Judges Blake Hewitt and Letitia Verdin and Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman advanced out of the JMSC, the commission announced Thursday.

The three candidates are vying for a soon-to-be vacant seat on the high court, currently held by Justice John Kittredge. Kittredge was elected in March to replace outgoing Chief Justice Don Beatty, who is retiring this summer after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72.

Six candidates applied for the vacant seat but the JMSC can only advance three. Jefferson, Judges Ralph Anderson, R. Keith Kelly, and Deadre Jefferson were not put forward.

The election comes amid growing concerns over the lack of gender and racial diversity on the bench.

Last February, the GOP-controlled legislature elected Judge Gary Hill to replace the state’s only female Supreme Court justice, Kaye Hearn, who had also reached the mandatory retirement age.

It also comes as lawmakers prepare to negotiate a compromise on changes to the judicial selection process that proponents say would address perceived transparency and accountability issues.

The House and Senate put forth two vastly different versions of a judicial reform bill that must be worked out in a conference committee before heading to the governor’s desk.

The 2024 legislative session ended Thursday but lawmakers will re-convene on June 5 to decide the next Supreme Court justice.