(Columbia) Feb. 2, 2005 - Senate members headed to the House chambers for Wednesday's judicial vote and the passed a silent plea from members of the NAACP: more diversity in the courts.

The request failed to move lawmakers, who reject two black candidates for judicial positions.

About 30 members of the Black Caucus walked out.

Rep. David Mark (D-Charleston) wants to know why there are only six black judges out of 141 statewide, "The South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus is fed up at this point with the total neglect. When year after year, we're told it's going to be better next time, hang in there. We're tired of that. We're sick and tired of that."

Rep. Leon Howard (D-Richland) remarked on the seriousness of the actions they took, "Truly today, this is not a knee jerk reaction, or some temper tantrum that the legislative black caucus is going through. These professional men and women of the Legislative Black Caucus stand united today, united for change to let the public know that we're being disrespected and not being treated fairly."

State NAACP director Dr. Lonnie Randolph says it's all part of a long history in South Carolina, "Isn't it amazing that 135 years ago yesterday, Justice Jonathan Jasper Wright was elected to the supreme court in South Carolina and here we are 135 years later? Five years after the Civil War we could elect people to the court and we can't today? That's despicable."

It's not clear exactly what the Black Caucus plans to do about it with one possibility being a lawsuit.

Reported by Jack Kuenzie
Posted 5:31pm by BrettWitt