Gov. Mark Sanford’s call for the Legislature to elect more black judges could be a boost for the state’s lag in appointees, some legislators said.

Ultimately, though, it’s up to legislators, who last year didn’t elect any of the black candidates who came up for selection.

“I applaud him for having the courage to touch on it,” said Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, who sponsored a bill last year to enlarge the pool for electing judges.

The issue has become increasingly heated over the past few years.

At the end of his State of the State message, and to polite applause, Sanford urged the General Assembly to confront what he said is the perception the Legislature doesn’t support diversity in the judiciary.

“While African-Americans make up about a third of the population, they make up only about 10 percent of the judges,” Sanford pointed out.

Actually, blacks make up only about 6 percent of the state’s judiciary, according to the state Supreme Court.

Some lawmakers said they will not follow Sanford’s call.

“I will never vote for or against a person based on their skin color,” said Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston.

Altman said he doesn’t share Sanford’s view there is the perception the Legislature won’t elect black judges.

Others said the governor’s challenge could pay dividends.

“He has the bully pulpit, and, as governor, he can advocate for number of things for us to follow, but it remains to be seen what happens,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

Cobb-Hunter, Howard, and Rep. David Mack, D-Charleston, who heads the Legislative Black Caucus, said the House will again this year have the opportunity to elect black judges.

“I think the governor has a good heart, and I appreciate his mention of Rosa Parks and more black judges,” Mack said.

“But he hasn’t been good at getting his own legislation passed in this body. However, I do think he is a decent man, and it’s significant when the governor makes the point it is an issue that needs to be dealt with.”

House Speaker Bobby Herrell, D-Charleston, said he, too, is unsure how pervasive the perception is that the Legislature is opposed to diversity on the bench, as Sanford suggested.

“I think in the African-American community there’s a lot of recognition of that problem, and the House just needs to continue our efforts.”

Reach Burris at (803) 771-8398 or rburris@thestate.com.