Date:  December 13, 2010

Location:  Seminar Room, Central Carolina Technical University’s Health Sciences Building, Sumter, South Carolina

Event:  Lecture

In December, Dale Atkinson, Judge of Probate Court, reported that his court provides four services to Sumter County: Issue marriage licenses; process requests for Emergency Commitment of individuals; appoint Conservators and/or Guardians for children and other individuals who need assistance; and Probate the estates of deceased citizens.  Probate Judges are elected by the citizens of the county.  They serve for four years.  Twenty-five of the forty-six probate judges are women; two are African-American.  

Date:  November 29, 2010

Location:  Chapman Auditorium, Frances Marion University, Florence, South Carolina

Event:  Panel Discussion

Partners:  Francis Marion University

A four-person panel, composed of Professor Constance Anastopoulo of Charleston Law School (moderator), Assistant Professor of Political Science Alissa Warters of Francis Marion University, federal Judge Terry Wooten, and State Representative Terry Alexander discussed the history of issues regarding the selection process of judges in the state of South Carolina with the perspective of gaining more independence and diversity.

The event was covered in the Florence News and and on WPDE Channel 15.

Date:  November 14, 2010

Location:  Office of the Supreme Court, Columbia, South Carolina

Event:  Meeting

The League of Women Voters of South Carolina met with Chief Justice Jean Toal of the South Carolina Supreme Court to share details about the newly-launched education campaign.