State Rep. Leon Howard, D-Columbia, and state Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, are proposing the 32 members of the Legislative Black Caucus withhold their votes for the 37 judgeships to be filled by the General Assembly on Wednesday.
"I'm tired of deciding which Caucasian is going to be on the bench," Howard said. "It's white folks' business, so let them vote."
The caucus has not taken up the proposal.
A former chairman of the caucus says he understands the concern but did not commit to the vote boycott. "It has been a perennial problem for those of us of color in the Legislature," said Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins.
Just 6 percent of the 140 judgeships filled by the General Assembly are held by blacks. The state's population is 30 percent black. There are no black members on the five-judge state Supreme Court, and one of the nine Appeals Court judges is black.
Howard said he is not pressuring the caucus for a boycott, but made his request out of frustration. "It gives me some relief that something is being done," Howard said.
Among the 37 judges up for election Wednesday is Chief Justice Jean Toal. She is unopposed for her first full, 10-year term as chief justice and has been on the high court almost 16 years.
Information from: The State