(Columbia-AP) Feb. 16, 2004 -- Some lawmakers say the state's process of electing judges needs to be changed to get more black judges on the bench. The South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus will introduce a bill Tuesday to revamp the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

About six percent of judges elected by the General Assembly are black. Yet blacks make up about 30 percent of the state's population.

Caucus Chairman Jerry Govan says there is a problem with the way judges are selected. The ten-member commission considers candidates' qualifications and submits up to three nominations to the General Assembly for election. The black caucus wants to eliminate the three-person cap for nominees, saying it limits good candidates and diversity.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell say he's sensitive to the need for diversity, but he says it's more important that judges be qualified and fair than a certain color.

Posted 8:44pm by BrettWitt