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Frances P. Segars-Andrews
Frances P. "Charlie" Segars-Andrews (b. January 23, 1957) was a South Carolina Family Courts judge for the Ninth Circuit.[1] She was first elected to this position in 1993.[2] She was removed from office by a determination of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission at the end of her last term in 2010.[3]
Recusal hearing
Segars-Andrews appeared in a hearing before the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission on November 7, 2009. The hearing was to determine whether or not Segars-Andrews should be sanctioned for hearing a case where she acknowledged having a conflict-of-interest, but failed to recuse herself. The November 7th hearing resulted in a vote that found her "unqualified" to continue serving as a judge. She went before the Commission again on December 2, 2009 in an attempt to present more information that may change the earlier vote,[4] but the Commission declined revisiting her case.[5]
The South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers issued a statement in support of Segars-Andrews.[6]
A final decision on her qualifications was released in December 2009,[7] and it again deemed her "Not Qualified".[8]
Lawsuit
Judge Segars-Andrews filed a lawsuit in the South Carolina Supreme Court requesting that they vacate the decision of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission to remove her from future terms as a judge. "There are serious issues of constitutional law involved in this case. The fundamental issue involves far-reaching issues of protecting judicial independence," her complaint said.[9] The League of Women Voters of South Carolina filed an amicus brief in support of Segars-Andrews.[10]
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Selection Commission's screening process and upheld the decision to remove Segars-Andrews from the bench. Her service will end on June 30, 2010 when her term expires.[11]
Education
Segars-Andrews earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in 1981. She went on to receive her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia in 1984. She is now married to Mark O. Andrews and has two children.[2]
Career
Segars-Andrews worked in private practice from 1984 to 1993. In 1993 she was elected to the 9th Circuit Family Court by the General Assembly. She has served as a Family Court Judge since then.[2]
External links
- Fits News, "Toal Throws Lowcounty Judge To The Wolves," March 24, 2010
- The Post and Courier "Charleston judge files suit in S.C. top court," December 24, 2009 (dead link)
- The Post and Courier "Lawyers fear judges being deprived of independence," December 18, 2009
- The Post and Courier "Lawyer: 'Every judge I know is terrified'," December 16, 2009
- The Post and Courier "‘Unqualified' finding against judge is unfair," December 14, 2009
- The Post and Courier "Panel mum on case," December 11, 2009
- Fits News "Lowcountry Judicial Drama Continues," December 8, 2009
Footnotes
- ↑ List of Family Court Judges
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Judge Segars-Andrews Bio
- ↑ The State, "S.C. justices rule against judge," March 24, 2010
- ↑ The Post and Courier "Move called overreaction," November 28, 2009
- ↑ Post and Courier "Judge's rating remains the same," December 3, 2009
- ↑ Post and Courier "Group supports Segars-Andrews," December 6, 2009
- ↑ The Sun News "Judge's future decided soon," December 4, 2009
- ↑ Report of a Candidate's Qualifications
- ↑ Post and Courier "Judge files suit in S.C. top court," December 23, 2009
- ↑ The Post and Courier "League rallies behind judge," February 2, 2010
- ↑ Post and Courier "S.C. justices rule against judge," March 24, 2010
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of South Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of South Carolina
State courts:
South Carolina Supreme Court • South Carolina Court of Appeals • South Carolina Circuit Courts • South Carolina Masters-in-Equity • South Carolina Family Courts • South Carolina Magistrate Courts • South Carolina Municipal Courts • South Carolina Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in South Carolina • South Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in South Carolina
