Legislature-Appointed Judges and Court Backlogs Undermine Justice System

The Challenge: South Carolina is one of two states where the legislature selects judges, raising questions about judicial independence, while family court backlogs leave families waiting months or years for resolution. What do South Carolinians think? Residents see structural problems. One noted: "South Carolina is 1 of 2 states where the legislature has the sole power to select judges — neither the Governor nor the voters have any voice." The conflict of interest is clear to many: "lawyer legislators should not screen, nominate, or select judicial candidates who may preside over their, or their firms', cases." Family courts draw particular anguish: "SC has some of the longest family court wait times in the country — families wait months for temporary hearings and years for final ones." Another resident attended a hearing where "a Magistrate violated a citizen's rights and there was no way to get a transcript — courtrooms must be recorded."