Contributed bySC Bar

The SC Bar Judicial Qualifications Committee released its reports on the qualifications of judicial candidates in contested races. The reports reflect the composite perspective provided by members of the Bar who were interviewed about each candidate’s judicial temperament, character, knowledge of the law, and legal skills. A significant number of interviews were sought by the Committee for each candidate, and the candidates themselves were directly interviewed.

Sitting legislators were not contacted to prevent any interference that a legislator was being asked to endorse a candidate. The investigative interviews were confidential to encourage candid responses. The Committee is issuing reports on the following candidates:

Circuit Court at Large Seat 12

• Debra J. Gammons, Greenville

• Hon. Jennifer Peters Wilson, Conway

Family Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Seat 1

• Brian M. Gibbons, Chester

It is the collective opinion of the Committee that the following candidates possess the requisite characteristics for the judicial positions they seek based on the results of investigations conducted in the fall of 2004 and the collective knowledge of the Committee members. Therefore, no investigation was conducted.

Circuit Court

At Large Seat 12

• Frederick A. “Rick” Hoefer II, Florence

• Thomas A. Russo, Florence

The reports will be forwarded directly to members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission of the SC General Assembly.

The SC Bar, which has a membership of more than 11,500 lawyers, is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.

Judicial Qualifications Reports may be downloaded as a PDF file at www.scbar.org/pdf/

JQCapr05.pdf.