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| Sanford addresses Supreme Court |
| (Columbia-AP) -- Governor Mark Sanford
addressed the state Supreme Court Wednesday as he defended his right
to serve as governor and as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
Reserves. Sanford asked to speak and Chief Justice Jean Toal told Sanford it is extremely rare for a defendant to address the court. Toal allowed Sanford to speak. He told the justices they should consider personal issues as well as the legal question of whether the state Constitution bars him from serving as governor while holding a federal commission. Sanford says his service provides an example to his four sons. He also says as governor, he benefits from being at the bottom during his weekend training drills. Sanford says the Reserve experience makes him a better governor by putting him in contact with a diverse group of regular people. Edward Sloan of Greenville sued, saying the state Constitution bars the dual service. |