South Carolina H 4930: Constitution, Governor to appoint Judicial Merit Selection Commission

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4930 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4930

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A joint Resolution

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 27, ARTICLE V OF THE 
CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION 
COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION 
COMMISSION MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 27, Article V of the 
Constitution of this State be amended to read:

 Section 27. 
In addition to the qualifications for circuit court and court of appeals judges 
and Supreme Court justices contained in this article, the General Assembly by 
law shall establish a Judicial Merit Selection Commission to consider the 
qualifications and fitness of candidates for all judicial positions on these 
courts and on other courts of this State which are filled by election of the 
General Assembly. The General Assembly must elect the judges and justices from 
among the nominees of the commission to fill a vacancy on these courts.

 No person may be 
elected to these judicial positions unless he or she has been found qualified 
by the commission. Before a sitting member of the General Assembly may submit 
an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and 
before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of 
the General Assembly must first resign his office and have been out of office 
for a period established by law. Before a member of the commission may submit 
an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and 
before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of 
the commission must not have been a member of the commission for a period to be 
established by law.

 The 
Governor shall appoint all members of the commission to serve terms established 
by law.

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be 
submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for 
representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with 
the following words printed or written on the ballot:

 "Must Section 27, 
Article V of the Constitution of this State, relating to the Judicial Merit 
Selection Commission, be amended so as to provide for appointment by the 
Governor of all members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission for terms 
established by law?

Yes o

No o

Those voting in favor 
of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square 
after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a 
ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 03:44 PM