CONTENTIOUS JUDICIAL RACE RAISES THE QUESTION …
|| By FITSNEWS || This website has written extensively on the nepotism angle related to this week’s contentious race for a top judicial post in South Carolina. In fact our coverage has sparked mainstream media interest – which has in turn sparked S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley‘s involvement in the race.
That’s lot of buzz for a battle we’re only marginally interested in …
Anyway, having blown up this story in a manner benefiting one of the candidates – incumbent administrative law judge Carolyn C. Matthews (above) – we figure we owed it to her opponent, Bill Funderburk (husband of S.C. Rep. Laurie Funderburk) to parrot a few of his message points.
You know … even though we’re all “unfair, imbalanced” and everything.
According to Funderburk supporters, the nepotism angle we’ve been covering isn’t as serious as the issue of incumbency – pointing to Matthews’ sixteen years in the same post.
“Nepotism is bad but the power of incumbency is worse,” one lawmaker supporting Funderburk told FITS, adding that “attorneys in the General Assembly will not vote against an incumbent judge.”
Why not? Because if that judge loses, the lawmaker is “marked” – and not just by the judge in question.
“They all put a mark on (the legislator),” our source said, referring to a network of judges who reportedly work together to stave off challenges to their positions.
The result of this system?
“You can’t get rid of a bad judge,” the lawmaker said.
Interesting …
Frankly, we don’t think the real issue here isn’t nepotism. Or incumbency. It’s that South Carolina is the only state in the nation which permits lawmakers to select and vote on judicial candidates – a fundamentally flawed system which continues to produce corruption, not competency in the judicial branch.
That’s the real story of this pitched insider battle between a veteran judge and a lawmaker’s husband … that the state’s legislative branch simply cannot be trusted with this responsibility. In fact, as state lawmakers mull major reforms to South Carolina’s existing (and woefully under-enforced) ethics laws, we hope they put the scrapping of legislative elections for judicial candidates near the top of the list.
(Pic: Jeff Amberg)
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26 comments
“government isn’t the solution, government is the problem.”-Reagan(hypocrite)
That is my theory of govt. When has the govt. fixed any problem ? The laws they pass might start out good but soon deteriorate into endless rules from soulless, faceless, heartless bureaucrats. While politicians argue over what color to paint a turd , the original problem still remains. Nepotism or incumbency ;” What difference dose it make ?”
Government fixed the problem of Saddam Hussein. Government fixed the problem of Osama bin Laden. And that only cost $8 trillion so far
What is your alternative to government for large societal challenges? You want to get rid of government? What is your alternative? Government is one of the 5 basic institutions of human society. Without it, we do not have a civil society. What is your alternative?
“Without it, we do not have a civil society.”
Yes, all the war, debt, inflating away people salaries, etc. et al is very “civilizing”.
“What is your alternative to government for large societal challenges?”
Self reliance & compassion, which is what ever growing government eliminates.
You would have us in the stone age. I can’t even argue with such foolishness because it wastes my time.
You can’t argue it because you’re an idiot that can’t contend with the facts.
“war, debt, inflation”
facts
Try the Constitution of the USA. A great place to start.
How dare anyone question the ruling elite. Don’t you know with their Clemson and USC educations they are entitled to run this state. They are the leaders, the shakers and the makers, the ones with the intellect. It is not our place to question their motives, their relationships or their lifestyles. They are the chosen ones. From the upstate to Edisto, from Florence to Allendale. They are groomed to lead us, their families have pre-determined they are right and rightous. We must kneel in their presence because they are all powerful. We are not worthly of their attention.
Yeah…Quota-fillers and an Affirmative Action degrees are MUCH better…just look at Obama…and the GREAT job he’s done…It will only take the next 10 years to recover from the MESS that SOB’s made…
We’re discussing nepotism and incumbency in South Carolina sir.
I can see why you’d like to ignore (as in IGNORANCE) the alternative…LMAO….
The Ruling Elite is free to do whatever they want. Beat a prego girlfriend – no worries. Drive drunk and armed around downtown Columbia – that’s cool. Get your daughter a job at the state museum for the summer – sure thing. Have the DOT come to your upstate private community and do some bridge work – sure. Accountable – not a chance.
“attorneys in the General Assembly will not vote against an incumbent judge.”
Why not? Because if that judge loses, the lawmaker is “marked” – and not just by the judge in question.
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Simple solution. Don’t allow lawyers to serve in the General Assembly.
Simple solution. Don’t allow lawyers to serve in the General Assembly.
So where else should we quarantine them?
Doesn’t the Federal Government have a suitable place in Barnwell.
yes! that’s brilliant! prevent the people who know the most about law from drafting and passing laws!
The simple solution is to either have judges be elected by the people or nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature (or just the Senate).
A little bit of sarcasm. Poe’s law.
Here is another serving. ;-)
Lawyers are not going to pass a law that does require hiring a lawyer to explain or require litigation.
Many lawyers don’t know the law, chump. History and court records easily prove the same.
“yes! that’s brilliant! prevent the people who know the most about law from drafting and passing laws!”
Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.
You PAY attorney’s for their expertise & consultation, which any entity can do.
Just like a judge should recuse themselves from any conflict of interest, so it should be that attorney’s be relegated to the court oriented functions of gov’t vs. the law making body(beyond consultation).
Doesn’t incumbency often breed nepotism? Only incumbents have the position or influence to fill jobs with their family members.
“Nepotism is bad but the power of incumbency is worse,” one lawmaker supporting Funderburk told FITS…
I couldn’t agree more and I’m looking forward to reading the term limit legislation that the quoted lawmaker will be introducing…
No lawyer practicing before a SC circuit court judge will rat them out for Canon Violations inasmuch the lawyer would be ‘blackballed’ for doing so. And let me tell you, there are plenty of this state’s judges who often act “Out of Order.” Judge Thomas Hughston is one of them. He should have been tossed from the bench eons ago.
Damn, Fits found a real honest to God issue…and made a sensible point (I know he’s just repeating the same damn good point he has been making for months.) but he’s right…still
She is wearing a $5000.00 gold necklace in this photo.
Loretta Lynch, our next attorney general, was college buddies with Eric Holder’s wife. So if nepotism is allowed to occur at that level of government under the Obama Admin. than nepotism must be a good thing. And if if nepotism is in fact a bad thing, than who cares if it’s happening in South Carolina?
/sarc