Allowing the Governor to Appoint Judges with the Consent of the House and Senate

H.3123 would amend the state constitution to allow Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and Circuit Court justices to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly – both House and Senate. Currently the House doesn’t confirm other appointments made by the governor, and since all South Carolinians are already represented in the Senate, there is no reason to diffuse accountability by allowing more lawmakers to be involved in judicial appointments. Under the current system, the House dominates the judicial appointment process by sheer force of numbers – the House can elect a judge without that candidate getting a single vote in the Senate. Accountability means fewer politicians having a hand in the process: the House should be excluded.