Upon a vacancy in the office of master-in-equity, candidates therefor shall submit an application to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Upon completion of reports and recommendations, the commission shall submit such reports and recommendations on master-in-equity candidates to the appropriate county legislative delegations. The county legislative delegations shall then submit the name of a candidate to the Governor for consideration for appointment. Nothing shall prevent the Governor from rejecting the person nominated by the delegation. In this event, the delegation shall submit another name for consideration. No person found not qualified by the commission may be appointed to the office of master-in-equity. For purposes of this section, a vacancy is created in the office of the master-in-equity when any of the following occurs: a term expires, a new judicial position is created, or a judge no longer can serve due to resignation, retirement, disciplinary action, disability, or death. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission may begin screening prior to the actual date of the vacancy in the case of an expiration of term, resignation, or retirement pursuant to written notice thereof.
HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 391, Part I, Section 1; 1997 Act No. 35, Section 2.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 19 - Election Of Justices And Judges
Section 2-19-10. Judicial Merit Selection Commission; appointment; qualifications; term.
Section 2-19-20. Investigation by Commission; publication of vacancies.
Section 2-19-25. Solicitation of Bar assessment.
Section 2-19-30. Hearings; executive session.
Section 2-19-35. Criteria for investigations and consideration of Commission.
Section 2-19-40. Exemption from hearing.
Section 2-19-50. Confidentiality of records, information and other material; destruction thereof.
Section 2-19-60. Powers of Commission.
Section 2-19-70. Prohibition against dual offices, privileges of the floor, and pledges.
Section 2-19-80. Nomination of qualified candidates to the General Assembly.
Section 2-19-90. Approval of General Assembly in joint session.
Section 2-19-100. Eligibility of retired judges for appointment.
Section 2-19-120. Citizens Committees on Judicial Qualifications; membership; compensation.