So, legislators recommend and politic for the folks they want appointed to the bench in their area. Then they argue cases before those judges. Who would have thought that would cause an ethical quandary? Well, every citizen with common sense, that's who.
The cure for this, according to Camden Democrat Vincent Sheheen, is to have the SC Supreme Court nominate magistrates. He proposed this change after Governor "Shady" Haley called him out because he had a number of jury trial requests pending before magistrates he recommended.
We aren't so sure Sheheen's suggestion is a good one. Do you really want a serial DUI offender, to wit, Chief Justice Jean Toal, nominating your magistrates? Heck, she could soon be swerving through every county in the state with even less to fear if that happened.
We have been studying the issue of the appointment of judges and magistrates in South Carolina due to the issues we have pointed out in these pages. There is no perfect way of putting these judges on the bench, but given all of the problems we have pointed out, and the ineptness and "citizens don't matter" views of our legislators, we think the choice should be put in the hands of the citizens. Yes, there are other problems with having judges stand for election, but they are already involved in a political process because they have to do the political dance with legislators in order to get appointed.
It would be a real battle to change the process, through. You don't think those legislators will willingly give up a bit of their power, do you? Especially when relinquishing that power can have a direct effect on their wallets.
What about the ethical issues brought about when legislators propose and pass laws that have a direct effect on their own businesses and bank accounts?
The cure for this, according to Camden Democrat Vincent Sheheen, is to have the SC Supreme Court nominate magistrates. He proposed this change after Governor "Shady" Haley called him out because he had a number of jury trial requests pending before magistrates he recommended.
We aren't so sure Sheheen's suggestion is a good one. Do you really want a serial DUI offender, to wit, Chief Justice Jean Toal, nominating your magistrates? Heck, she could soon be swerving through every county in the state with even less to fear if that happened.
We have been studying the issue of the appointment of judges and magistrates in South Carolina due to the issues we have pointed out in these pages. There is no perfect way of putting these judges on the bench, but given all of the problems we have pointed out, and the ineptness and "citizens don't matter" views of our legislators, we think the choice should be put in the hands of the citizens. Yes, there are other problems with having judges stand for election, but they are already involved in a political process because they have to do the political dance with legislators in order to get appointed.
It would be a real battle to change the process, through. You don't think those legislators will willingly give up a bit of their power, do you? Especially when relinquishing that power can have a direct effect on their wallets.
What about the ethical issues brought about when legislators propose and pass laws that have a direct effect on their own businesses and bank accounts?