COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The Latest on Don Beatty becoming South Carolina’s second black chief justice since Reconstruction (all times local):
1:40 p.m.
The state’s next chief justice says he is only thinking about being South Carolina’s top judge.
Legislators on Wednesday elected Don Beatty to his new job. He was running unopposed.
But Beatty has also been nominated by President Barack Obama to be a federal judge in South Carolina. That nomination has not been taken up by the U.S. Senate.
Beatty said after his election Wednesday that he won’t speculate about something that hasn’t happened.
Former Chief Justice Jean Toal was thrilled to see her colleague become chief justice. She says Beatty’s election shows how his merit as a judge shines through because he is a black Democrat in a Republican-dominated state.
The 64-year-old Beatty will serve until July 2024. He will replace Chief Justice Costa Pleicones (pluh-KOH’- nus), who must retire Dec. 31 because he turns 72.
___
12:30 p.m.
Legislators have elected South Carolina’s second black chief justice since Reconstruction.
Associate Justice Don Beatty was the only person running to be the next chief justice of South Carolina.
State lawmakers on Wednesday selected Beatty to replace Chief Justice Costa Pleicones (pluh-KOH’- nus), who must retire Dec. 31 because he’s reached the mandatory retirement age of 72.
The 64-year-old Beatty has been on the state’s high court since 2007. His term as chief justice runs to July 2024.
Some Republicans sought another candidate. They criticized two of Beatty’s opinions as “judicial overreach.” But no one else applied for the job.
In 1994, Ernest Finney Jr. became South Carolina’s first black chief justice since Reconstruction. He retired in 2000.
Beatty has also been nominated to be a federal judge.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.