COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A seat is up for grabs on South Carolina’s highest court, which has made critical decisions in recent years on abortion, the death penalty and school funding.

In an unusual twist, the race is pitting the justice who has held that seat for nearly a decade against a former top lawmaker at the State House, in a contest that is set to be decided by the state legislature.

On Monday, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, or JMSC, began its annual screenings of judicial candidates.

JMSC Chair Micah Caskey, a Republican state representative from Lexington County, described the process as a professional and personal background check to determine which candidates are qualified and then forward the names of up to six people per seat to the full General Assembly for its co

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