Posted on Fri, Jan. 19, 2007

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JUDICIAL SYSTEM

2 local women sew up posts

Georgetown County duo earn spots in S.C. courts

By Zane Wilson

The Sun News

COLUMBIA - Two women from Georgetown County made history Thursday when they snared enough commitments from legislators for election to judicial posts.

Circuit Judge Paula Thomas of Pawleys Island was the apparent winner of a vacant seat on the state Appeals Court. She will be only the third woman to serve on the nine-member panel since it was created in 1983.

"I am honored to be the third woman on the Court of Appeals and I look forward to serving in that capacity," Thomas said as she stood outside the House chamber being congratulated by representatives.

Georgetown attorney Jan Bromell Holmes had more than enough votes to win election to the Georgetown County family court post being vacated by H.E. "Tez" Bonnoitt.

Holmes would be the second black family court judge on the 52-member roster and the only black woman.

Her election follows a push by the Legislative Black Caucus to increase the diversity in the state's judicial system.

Holmes declined comment Thursday.

Legislators elect judges, and the election is set for Feb. 7. But as soon as campaigning is open, candidates begin seeking commitments from legislators for their vote. Campaigning in these elections opened at noon Tuesday.

In some cases one candidate is able to get enough commitments before the election so that the outcome is known, and that is what happened Thursday.

Thomas' two opponents, Circuit Judge John Hayes of Rock Hill and Family Court Judge Robert Jenkins of Greenville, withdrew Thursday after seeing that Thomas had enough votes to win.

One of Holmes' opponents, Georgetown County School Board Chairman Joe Crosby, had not withdrawn but Holmes had gathered more than enough votes to win by the end of the day Thursday. Her other opponent, attorney Reuben Goude, did not campaign and did not receive any votes.

Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, led Holmes' campaign in the House. "She has about 100 votes," he said; 86 are needed for election.

Anderson said Holmes and Thomas give legislators a chance to elect two women to judgeships and increase the diversity of the bench.

Also, "that will be good for Georgetown," Anderson said.

Black lawmakers agreed to support Thomas if the other legislators would support Holmes, Anderson said. He said lawmakers have nothing against Crosby.

"Later on, something would be available and he would have the support of the delegation," Anderson said.

The family court handles domestic cases such as divorce and child custody as well as juvenile criminal cases. The Appeals Court takes appeals from both family courts and circuit courts.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-North Myrtle Beach, an attorney, said the Appeals Court is especially important in the judicial system.

"The decisions they make have binding authority over every South Carolinian," unless they are in turn overruled by the Supreme Court, Clemmons said.

Only one woman currently serves on the Appeals Court: Chief Judge Kaye Hearn of Conway. One woman, Chief Justice Jean Toal, serves on the state Supreme Court. There is one black member of the Appeals Court and no black members of the Supreme Court.

There are only a few black circuit judges.

In a state where more than a third of the residents are black, their representation in the state's courts is shameful, some legislators have said. Two years ago, the Legislative Black Caucus walked out of an election when they said a qualified black candidate was passed over in favor of a white candidate.

Gov. Mark Sanford has urged legislators to elect more black judges and did so again Wednesday in his State of the State speech.

Rep. Harry Cato, R-Travelers Rest, managed Thomas' campaign in the House and said he is pleased for a chance to add some diversity to the family courts even if it meant passing over fellow Republican Crosby.

He said he would not vote for someone just because of party and hopes others are getting away from that tendency in favor of looking at qualifications.

"The candidates in this race are equally qualified and they're all good people," Cato said.

He said Thomas is the kind of "strict constructionist" he is looking for, rather than the kind of judge who will make law from the bench.

Thursday's events mean there will be a complete turnover in the Georgetown County Courthouse.

Master in Equity Ben Culbertson has said he will seek Thomas' seat.