South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Few has dropped out of the high court contest that was scheduled for Wednesday.
Erin Crawford, chief counsel with the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, said JMSC received Few's withdrawal letter at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Few's withdrawal means JMSC will reopen the screening process for the Supreme Court seat, and the Supreme Court seat election scheduled for noon Wednesday will not be held.
In a post on Facebook, Few said it had become clear over the last few weeks that he did not have the votes to keep his seat on the Supreme Court.
"It is customary in judicial elections for the candidate who cannot win to withdraw from the race. Earlier this morning, I submitted my withdrawal letter to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. I accept this reality with only the most positive thoughts and feelings about what the future holds," Few wrote. "I take pride in everything I have done over my 26 years of judicial service; no regrets. During the same time I have been coming to grips with the reality that I cannot win this race, my excitement over returning to the private sector has grown exponentially. There will be no soft landing for me, as I plan to return to the active practice of law with the same energy and enthusiasm that has defined my career as a judge and Justice."
Few was one of four people vying for the open court seat.
In addition to Few, the candidates included former Republican House Speaker Jay Lucas, Administrative Law Court Judge Ralph King Anderson III and State Appeals Court Judge Blake Hewitt.
Lawmakers have said the top vote-getter in the race currently is Lucas, who announced in 2022 that he would not seek reelection.
The South Carolina Legislature elects most judges in the state.
That includes the state Supreme Court.
It's unusual, often rare, that justices find their service in jeopardy with the General Assembly. In past years, justices have easily rolled over into another term.
Few, however, drew ire of particularly Republican legislators, critical of his 2021 vote to strike down a previous abortion ban — a decision he defended at his JMSC screening. Few later joined his colleagues to uphold the state's current six-week abortion ban. He was also questioned about his temperament, a question every judicial candidate runs into during their screening.
Lucas has not escaped criticism either, from his age and whether he would fight the 72-year retirement age to optics and his lack of bench experience.
This article will be updated.
