South Carolina’s Supreme Court is on the brink of a historic shift, as it prepares to bid farewell to its last Black justice, Chief Justice Don Beatty, due to mandatory retirement. With Circuit Judge Jocelyn Newman withdrawing from contention for the vacant seat, the state’s highest court is set to become all-white for the first time in almost twenty years.
The lack of diversity on the bench has sparked significant debate in a state where minorities represent a substantial portion of the population. Despite efforts to address diversity concerns, including a walkout by Black lawmakers during judicial elections five years ago, the General Assembly has consistently failed to nominate non-white candidates.
The absence of racial representation on the Supreme Court reflects a broader trend across the nation, with South Carolina joining 18 other states where all-white high courts prevail, as reported by the Brennan Center for Justice.
