Women in politics: Just how weak was South Carolina’s judicial reform? Now we know
Originally published by Matthew T. Hall for The State
A year ago, Gov. Henry McMaster reluctantly signed a bill that changed how South Carolina’s lawmakers elect judges, expanding an advisory Judicial Merit Selection Commission from 10 to 12 people, imposing term limits for the panel and empowering himself to name four members.
As overhauls go, it was underwhelming. It wasn’t incremental reform. It was infinitesimal.
The new panel’s composition shows how little has changed. In fact, it shows a step backward.