Blacks on back of judicial bus in SC

A new study by the S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee shows black candidates are much less likely to be elected to the bench by lawmakers than whites - - even though the state enacted judicial reforms eight years ago to improve diversity.

The study, quietly released as state lawmakers wrapped up business for the year, also found a gap between men and women, but it was less wide, according to The (Columbia, S.C.) State.

"[The study] examined 728 judicial races involving 1,236 candidates since 1975, when legislative screening began. It found, for example, that over the past eight years about 27 percent of white and other nonblack candidates were elected annually in races without an incumbent, compared with an average of about 11 percent for blacks — a 2.5-to-1 ratio. By comparison, an average of about 27 percent of male candidates were elected annually in no-incumbent races; about 20 percent of female candidates were elected for the same period.

"S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal [the state's first female chief justice] said Monday the study 'certainly confirms the position I’ve taken ever since I became chief that our bench does not adequately reflect the diversity that is South Carolina....These figures show a disparity not only in elections, but in nominations.'"

• See the full study.