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Article published Apr 26, 2004
Bright criticizes Hawkins' record on appointments to magistrate
courts
Tom
Langhorne
Staff Writer
Senate tradition holds that all
senators from a given county must agree to recommend to the governor candidates
for appointment or reappointment to magistrate judgeships in their counties.Lee
Bright says that too often Sen. John Hawkins has pushed his friends for the
positions.Bright is challenging Hawkins for his state Senate seat in the June 8
Republican primary."I don't know if he's going through his high school annual or
not, but the appointment process is too political," Bright said. "I would seek
the advice of business leaders and community leaders when recommending people
for magistrate positions."Hawkins responded to the criticism with a
challenge."If there's a specific complaint about a magistrate I've had a hand in
appointing, I'd like to hear it," he said. "Point me to somebody I've
(recommended for appointment) who isn't doing a good job."Hawkins said several
recent Magistrate Court reforms came at his urging. He said he has tried to
remove a magistrate he considers unfit, Magistrate Larry Hutchins, but
Democratic Sen. Glenn Reese has blocked the move by refusing to agree.Bright
says Hawkins, an attorney, is guilty of a conflict of interest whenever he
practices law before the very magistrates he had a hand in appointing.Hawkins
said keeping lawyer-legislators out of magistrate courts is impractical."Under
that theory, I shouldn't be able to practice law before circuit judges,
masters-in-equity, members of the state Supreme Court and the state Court of
Appeals, because I vote on whether to put them in office too," he said. "This is
another example of not having anything to run on, so you run this negative,
nitpicking campaign."Adjutant generalBright challenged Hawkins, a major in the
National Guard, to pledge he will not run for state adjutant general in 2006 if
he is re-elected this year. Hawkins has fought for adjutant general to remain an
elected office, opposing a segment of Gov. Mark Sanford's state government
restructuring plan.Bright said he suspects Hawkins wants the office for
himself.Hawkins ruled out any future run for adjutant general."(Bright)
shouldn't stay up nights worrying about that possibility," he said. "I have
absolutely no intention, desire or inclination to run for adjutant general,
ever. My goal is to continue to serve in the Senate and accumulate more years of
seniority."