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270 S.C. 242

State v. McIver

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided February 16, 1978

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1978-02-16

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1996

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1978-02-16

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Ness, Justice:

¶1The State appeals from an order reversing respondent’s conviction in magistrate’s court because the jury was improperly drawn. We affirm, holding the jury selection provision for Florence County magistrates’ courts to be special legislation and therefore unconstitutional.

¶2The jury which convicted respondent of driving under the influence was drawn pursuant to Act No. 883, Statutes at Large of 1966, which is at variance with Section 22-3-780 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976). Specifically, it provides for a jury venire of thirty-six rather than eighteen, and for the drawing of the ballots by the Florence magistrate rather than by an appointed officer.

¶3Article III, Section 34, subsection IX of the South Carolina Constitution prohibits the enactment of any local or special law where a general law can be made applicable. See Seaborn, et al. v. Hartsville Rescue Squad, et al., S. C., 237 S. E. (2d) 496 (1977). Thus the question presented is whether Code Section 22-3-780 can be made applicable as a general law.

¶4We believe Code Section 22-3-780 represents a legislative attempt to provide uniformity in the selection of jurors in criminal cases in magistrates’ courts. Accordingly, Act No. 883, requiring a different method of jury selection for Florence County, is special legislation in contravention of the constitution because a general law may be made applicable.

¶5The lower court correctly reversed respondent’s conviction.

¶6Affirmed.

Lewis, C. J., Littlejohn and Rhodes, JJ., and Joseph R. Moss, Acting Associate Justice, concur.
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