Four state representatives denounce judicial elections

Four state representatives walked out in protest of yesterday’s legislative assembly, which convened to elect judges, for what they consider blatant violations of the state constitution. This after Rep. Jonathon Hill, of Townville, attempted to force recorded roll call votes on each of the seven judicial races which were originally contested before the contenders dropped out of the race. Hill says he was ignored by Senate President Harvey Peeler, who presided over the assembly. “Article V of the South Carolina Constitution requires the elections of judges be conducted on the record,” Hill said. “However, the legislature routinely sidesteps this requirement by convincing the challengers in contested judicial elections to drop out of the race before the election, so that the remaining judicial candidates can be elected off the record with a voice vote.” During the joint assembly, Hill appealed to Article III, Section 20 of the South Carolina Constitution, which states that elections cannot be conducted by voice votes unless there is unanimous consent. After failure to be recognized by President Peeler, Hill walked out. He was joined by Rep. Josiah Magnuson, of Spartanburg, Rep. Stewart Jones, of Laurens, and Rep. Adam Morgan, of Greenville. Hill and the others denounced the judicial election proceedings on Facebook live, calling the election a “farce” and “a sham.” “We’re gonna continue pushing for judicial reform,” Hill concluded. “We’ve got to have a judicial selection process that is legal, that is constitutional, and that is moral, and right now we have none of those.”