Posted on Wed, May. 24, 2006

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2 black women seeking judgeships

Election of both today would go long way to easing shortage, Black Caucus members say

By RICK BRUNDRETT

rbrundrett@thestate.com

Black state lawmakers say today’s election to fill an Administrative Law Court seat is their last chance this legislative session to increase the number of black judges in South Carolina.

The election pits Paige Gossett, 36, who is white, against Shirley Robinson, 55, who is black.

In another judicial election, state Workers’ Compensation commissioner J. Michelle Childs is expected to be named to a circuit court seat. Her two opponents withdrew earlier.

Childs, who is black, will replace Reggie Lloyd, who earlier this year became South Carolina’s first permanent black U.S. attorney.

A third black member, Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, was added to the State Judicial Merit Selection Commission in November, when Sens. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Tommy Moore, D-Aiken, stepped down. There are 10 members on the commission.

At the time, legislators said it was a step forward for nominating for black judicial candidates, but not a final solution.

Black state lawmakers said they are focusing more on the Administrative Law Court race because Robinson’s election would increase the number of black judges statewide.

“Here, the historical opportunity is electing two women of color to the bench,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, a Black Caucus member. “If you are serious about diversity, and when the opportunity presents itself, you fail to seize that opportunity, what are we to think?”

About 6 percent of the state’s lawyers and 6 percent of its trial and appellate judges are black, while the state’s black population is about 30 percent.

Both Robinson and Gossett have ties to the 170-member General Assembly.

Robinson, an attorney with the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, is a former executive director of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Gossett, a partner in the Columbia law firm of Willoughby & Hoefer, is the wife of Jeffrey Gossett, clerk of the Senate.

Both candidates were nominated by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Lawmakers can select only from among nominated candidates.

Some black lawmakers claim U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is unfairly tipping the election in favor of Gossett by contacting lawmakers to support Gossett.

Efforts to reach Wilson were unsuccessful.

In a statement, his spokeswoman, Emily Lawrimore, said, “Congressman Wilson has been a close friend of the Gossetts for over a decade, and he believes Paige would be a wonderful addition to the Administrative Law Court.”

Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, one of Paige Gossett’s key supporters in the House, said Wilson didn’t do anything illegal or unethical.

“We get calls from attorneys, politicians all the time,” Harrison said.

Reach Brundrett at (803) 771-8484.