SPOTLIGHT ON LEGISLATION

About 6 percent of judges elected by the General Assembly are black — but blacks make up about 30 percent of the state’s population. Black lawmakers want to change the process of electing judges to get more black judges. Proposed legislation would:

• Eliminate the three-person cap for nominees, which it says limits good candidates

• Increase to 11, from 10, the membership of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, the body that screens judicial candidates and presents finalists to the Legislature for final approval

• Change the way commission members are selected, giving the governor, the Legislative Black Caucus and others a say in appointments. Members now are appointed by three House and Senate leaders.

• Another proposal would only eliminate the cap on nominees, without changing the makeup of the selection commission.

Proponents say

“South Carolina has failed to be fair and equitable in allowing African-Americans on the bench.”

— State Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland, former Black Caucus chairman

Opponents say

“I don’t think we’ll get a good result out of it. It’s more important that judges be qualified and fair than a certain color.”

— Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, who serves on the commission