Kimbrell Announces Objection to All Future Judicial Elections
- SCCLR Newsletter
- Nov 11
- 2 min read
By: SC Judicial Integrity Project
The growing movement for judicial reform in South Carolina gained a major boost this week as Senator Josh Kimbrell announced that he will formally object to all future judicial elections until what he called “meaningful reform” is enacted.
In a statement posted to social media, Kimbrell said he can no longer support a system that allows practicing attorneys in the General Assembly to control who sits on the bench.
“Until we have real judicial reform to ensure equal justice under law, I am objecting to any further judicial elections in South Carolina,” Kimbrell wrote. “The corruption of private practice with public service is too pervasive. I will object to any further judicial elections in South Carolina until meaningful reform is realized.”
The Heart of the Issue
South Carolina is one of only two states in the nation where lawmakers elect judges. The system has come under increasing scrutiny after a series of high-profile cases revealed conflicts of interest, lenient sentencing for repeat offenders, and outsized influence from lawyer-legislators who often appear before judges they helped elect.
Reform advocates argue that this arrangement undermines public trust and violates the principle of separation of powers. They say that until the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC) is restructured to remove legislative dominance, the state’s justice system will remain compromised.
A Growing Reform Movement
Kimbrell’s objection comes as momentum builds across the political spectrum for judicial reform. The DOGE SC-led Palmetto Revolution recently introduced a bill to overhaul the JMSC by transferring appointment authority to the governor and restoring a balance of power between branches of government.
That legislation has drawn support from a wide coalition of leaders, including Speaker Murrell Smith, Senators Wes Climer and Michael Johnson, and Representatives Gil Gatch and Jordan Pace. Attorney General Alan Wilson has also publicly praised the reform effort, calling it an essential step toward accountability.
Kimbrell’s move signals a new level of urgency within the legislature itself. By objecting to judicial elections, he is effectively halting the process until lawmakers confront the system’s conflicts head-on.
Reform as a Test of Integrity
South Carolina voters have made their stance on the issue clear. In the 2024 Republican presidential primary, 91 percent of GOP voters supported judicial reform that increases independence and transparency and reduces conflicts of interest.
Yet despite overwhelming public support, the legislature has so far passed only modest changes, leaving lawyer-legislators in control of judicial appointments.
Kimbrell’s decision puts pressure on his colleagues to act. It challenges them to prove that restoring faith in the justice system matters more than preserving power or political convenience.
“Equal justice under law” is the foundation of American democracy. In South Carolina, that principle has been eroded by decades of insider influence and legislative control.
With his announcement, Senator Josh Kimbrell has made it clear he is willing to stand in the way of business as usual until that changes.
— SC Judicial Integrity Project
