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THE GAMECOCK News February 11, 1985 ? Page 3 it) " " Debate caused b\ By Anociated Preit An 81-year-old retired Judge's use of the phrase "damn niggers" in an Anderson County courtroom has fueled the controversy over whether South Carolina should continue to use the retirees as special judges. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Moss, who made the remark last month, is one of seven retired judges in South Carolina who remain on the bench. The judges, who range in age from 60 to 81, often are asked to replace absent or ill circuit court judges. They also help fulltime judges sift through a growing pile of criminal and civil cases. Defenders of the nrnetice rile the retirees' experience and note that none left full-time work for health reasons. The mandatory retirement age for state employees is 72. "IT'S NO extra cost to the state to use them, plus it's hard not to take advantage oi inai experience,'' said Kep. Palmer Freeman, D-York. Last year, the retirees worked 105 weeks of court ? the equivalent of 2.5 full-time judges ? at a cost to the state of $46,510, plus travel expenses. To add 2.5 permanent judges to the bench, would cost $422,652 annually in judicial and support-staff salaries, according to Steve _ Good, financial director of the State %/ Court Administration. But some legislators question the merits of using retired judges. Bills are pending it: both the House and Senate that would bar any retired judge from performing any judicial duties. "I wouldn't want anyone with any . ? r The Valentii Thursd; ?;?K Studei General F MAKE HK -WflWTFIl- \R B H H ww m mm m* jg U HH CPU's Video Tape ( 2S? is starting a student fil Uj}" Now accepting submissi W inal material. Pick up an in the CPU office RHU mssmm i Moss incident remote senility sitting in judgement on me," said Sen. Rick Lee, R-Spananburg, who sponsored the Senate bill. SEN. JOHN DRUMMOND, DGreenwood, the bill's co-author, criticizes what he calls a "good-buddy system" that circumvents the state's retirement policy. And Rep. Frank McBride, D-Richland, who sponsored the House bill, cites the age factor. The lawmakers say their bills were in the works before the Moss controversy erupted. Lee and Drummond say they're concerned retired judges aren't subject to the same checks as permanent members of the bench, such as mandatory continuing legal education and a ban on political campaigning. The authority of the chief justice to appoint a retired judge or lawyer as a special judge is written into the South Carolina Constitution. HOWEVER. THE General Assembly could discourage their use by refusing to allow special judges to be paid, according to Court Administration Director Louis Rosen. South Carolina's court administration has doubled its use of retired judges since 1983, to relieve family court judges who were filling in on the circuit bench at the expense of their own dockets. The practice drew attention last month, when Moss uttered the phrase "damn niggers" in reference to a group of blacks who were protesting the conviction of a friend. jp888?8S& uPU's USG cultural Series ne's Day Event ay, Feb. 14 wnshlp nts: $7.00 ^iblic: $14.00 REMEMBER iTED ENT Your childhood fa\ Gumby. I'm comir RS! to USC with my < Art Clokey to sho of my animated WATCH F01 Committee more betai m program. ons for origi application U 209. smtmm Court re v.- .' ??r-r ?r? NEIL SIMON'S Dew Comedy / Olrcclcd By GENE SAKS ME? r$i /orite ? , ig soon /; / creator \ // ' w some J SJ/ films. I "it 1 M! / \ 7 p.m / i \ Gome witch 1 c:::^sr * WW^iAROLINA H^R( forms 5SSSSSS3SSHS jW QHTONV is 'Mimz il mm p roNioHT ?? The Spur FREE tTgm the new BSC trivia champs!" "a" DGRAM W,oM