S.C. Code Ann. § 17-3-310 – Commission created; appointment of members; terms; powers and duties

(A) There is created the Commission on Indigent Defense consisting of fifteen members.
(B) Eleven members shall be appointed by the Governor as follows:
1. (1) One member from each congressional district appointed upon recommendation of the South Carolina Public Defender Association and one member from the State at-large appointed upon the recommendation of the South Carolina Public Defender Association who shall serve as chairman.
  Members shall serve for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. A person may not be appointed to the commission pursuant to the provisions of this item or, once appointed pursuant to the provisions of this item, may not continue to serve on the commission unless the person is a public defender.
2. (2) A member of the South Carolina Bar appointed upon recommendation by the President of the South Carolina Bar for the term for which he is elected.
3. (3) A member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association appointed upon recommendation by the President of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association for the term for which he is elected.
4. (4) A member of the South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers Association appointed upon the recommendation of the President of the South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers Association for the term for which he is elected.
5. (5) A member of the South Carolina Public Defender Association appointed upon recommendation of the President of the South Carolina Public Defender Association for the term for which he is elected.
(C) The remaining four members must be appointed as follows:
1. (1) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, one of whom must be a retired circuit court judge and one of whom must be either a retired family court judge or a retired appellate court judge, each of whom shall serve for a term of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualifies; and
2. (2) the Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, or their legislative designees, for the terms for which they are elected.
(D) Members currently serving as of July 1, 2005, shall continue to serve until the expiration of their term and may be reappointed as provided in subsection (B)(1).
(E) The commission may adopt an appropriate seal and promulgate regulations consistent with the provisions of this article to govern its operations and procedures and shall supervise the operations of the Office of Indigent Defense including all the divisions of the office.
(F) The commission:
1. (1) may establish divisions within the office to administer the services and programs as it considers necessary to fulfill the purposes of this article;
2. (2) shall develop rules, policies, procedures, regulations, and standards as it considers necessary to carry out the provisions of the article and comply with state law or regulations and the rules of the Supreme Court, including the nature and scope of services to be provided, the clientele to be served, and the establishment of criteria to be used in the determination of indigency and qualifications for services for indigent legal representation; and
3. (3) shall cooperate and consult with state agencies, professional associations, and other groups concerning the causes of criminal conduct, the rehabilitation and correction of persons charged with and convicted of crimes, the administration of criminal justice, and the improvement and expansion of defender services.