Legal Reform

SC taxpayers asked to fund new liquor liability insurance program

Update 2/28/24: Following this report, which revealed that H.5066 would create a state-run liquor liability insurance program funded with taxpayers' money, the House Judiciary Committee voted to remove that section of the bill. The amended bill, advanced by the full committee Tuesday, would still reduce the $1 million liquor liability insurance...

Sam Aaron

Written by
February 24, 2024

  • SC taxpayers asked to fund new liquor liability insurance program

    Update 2/28/24: Following this report, which revealed that H.5066 would create a state-run liquor liability insurance program funded with taxpayers' money, the House Judiciary Committee voted to remove that section of the bill. The amended bill, advanced by the full committee Tuesday, would still reduce the $1 million liquor liability insurance...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    February 24, 2024

  • Judicial Reform Action Page

    NEW DASHBOARD A ONE-STOP SHOP TO LEARN ABOUT JUDICIAL REFORM PROGRESS, TAKE ACTION  Things can move quickly at the S.C. Statehouse, change on short notice, or come to a screeching halt without explanation. In any event, it’s our commitment at the South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC) to keep you informed...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    February 15, 2024

  • SC prosecutors give explosive testimony to House judicial study committee, back reform

    State prosecutors on Tuesday delivered explosive testimony to a House committee tasked with reviewing how South Carolina picks its judges, giving detailed accounts of actual or perceived favoritism, misbehavior and poor judgement they have witnessed or heard about. 
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    November 17, 2023

  • Bad for business: South Carolina must reform its unfair civil liability system

    South Carolina is at risk of seeing fewer jobs and less economic growth if the S.C. General Assembly fails to address and reform the state’s civil liability system, which forces businesses to unfairly pay legal claims for damages they did not cause. 
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    October 30, 2023

  • Impact: McMaster announces new judicial transparency policy

    In a letter to state senators, Gov. Henry McMaster announced new disclosure requirements for anyone seeking a magistrate judge position. Nominees will have to provide details on an updated application form about their finances and business affiliations, political contributions, judicial philosophies, conflicts of interest and other background information.  
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 23, 2023

  • Big updates on judicial reform as Nerve stories make waves

    This week, as The Nerve published hard-hitting stories exposing issues with S.C.’s magistrate judge system (read them here and here), two big developments on judicial reform made headlines.  
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    October 06, 2023

  • SC lags behind northern neighbor when it comes to picking judges

    If you’ve followed the judicial reform discussion for much time, you’ve probably heard that South Carolina is one of two states where judges are legislatively elected, the other being Virginia. But a review by SCPC found large differences between the two when it comes to policy and procedure. In a few...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    September 23, 2023

  • 2024 a critical year as judicial reform gains steam

    A reform effort to tackle one of South Carolina’s most urgent issues is gaining major steam.   On Monday, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson hosted a public discussion in Charleston with more than 30 state legislators to discuss judicial reform, urging members to address longstanding problems with how South Carolina...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    July 14, 2023

  • Seven steps to improve SC’s judicial system

    South Carolina’s judicial selection process is unusual and rife with issues that must quickly be addressed. Not only are higher-level state judges elected by the Legislature (a method used in just two states), but candidates for these seats must also be screened and nominated by a small legislatively controlled board....
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    April 11, 2023

  • Two bills would reduce unfairness in SC’s civil liability system

    A pair of House and Senate bills filed in February would move South Carolina’s civil liability laws in the right direction and a foster a legal environment that is fairer to businesses and more conducive to economic growth. The bills (S.533 and H.3933) would require juries or judges to consider nonparties in...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    March 02, 2023