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Opinion
Numbers
not surprising for black judges in state
June
13, 2005
Black
candidates for judgeships in South Carolina are less like to
be elected to the bench than white candidates. Also, more men
are elected judges than women. Is anybody surprised? Why?
You’d have to be deaf and blind not to know that without a
study.
Nevertheless, it took a legislative study to find
out what should be obvious, even at first glance. The study by
the state Senate Judiciary Committee examined 728 judicial
races since 1975. There had been 1,236 candidates involved
when the study began.
There have been efforts to address
the subject. And, there have been black candidates, to be
sure. Still, the numbers have not significantly increased, no
matter what efforts there have been.
It won’t matter how
many efforts there have been or will be, the numbers aren’t
likely to change appreciably unless the basic conditions are
changed. To do that, of course, depends on voters.
THERE HAS BEEN GREAT progress made in
getting more black South Carolinians elected to the
Legislature. The members of the Legislature, of course, elect
judges. More often than not they elect their own who are,
certainly, in position to politick for the votes.
Black
members, naturally, can politick, too, and some are elected to
the bench by their peers. Still, the membership in both the
House and Senate is predominantly white and male. It’s always
been that way. That historically and realistically gives the
advantage to white males.
They’re doing nothing wrong when
they elect white males. It’s normal under those circumstances.
More white males run for office and more are elected to the
Legislature by the voters. Their districts are predominantly
white. In predominantly black districts, voters elect black
candidates to the House and Senate.
THAT’S NOT
LIKELY TO change, either. Demographics dictate that.
That pretty much makes it inevitable that white males will
continue to hold most of the judgeships in the state ….. that
is, unless the basics are changed. That isn’t likely to
happen, either. So, white males will, naturally, fill more
judgeships than blacks.
About the only thing that can
change that, outside of redrawing political lines to create a
majority of black voting districts, is a change of lawmaker
attitudes, white and black. Forget color of skin or gender.
Forget good ‘ol boy and racial politics. Elect the best
person, based on ability and fairmindedness, not on social or
other ties.
Politics and reality being what they are,
though, that will be a hard sell. Still, it’s a worthy goal.
Editorial expression in this feature represents
our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.
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