The proposed bill, H. 3526, seeks to amend several sections of Article V of the South Carolina Constitution regarding the appointment and election of judges. Specifically, it aims to change the process for selecting Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and Circuit Court judges from being elected by the General Assembly to being appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly. The bill also proposes to amend Section 18 to allow the Governor to fill vacancies in these judgeships upon advice and consent, removing the stipulation that such appointments can only occur if the unexpired term does not exceed one year. Additionally, the bill seeks to repeal Section 27, which mandates the establishment of a Judicial Merit Screening Commission to evaluate judicial candidates.

To implement these changes, the bill requires that the proposed amendments be submitted to the qualified electors during the next general election. Voters will be asked to approve or reject the amendments through a ballot that outlines the changes to the appointment process for judges and the repeal of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. The bill emphasizes a shift towards a more centralized appointment process for judicial positions in South Carolina, aiming to enhance the role of the Governor and the General Assembly in judicial selections.