Toal, Pleicones applying for SC’s top legal jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A panel is considering the qualifications of two South Carolina jurists vying to lead the state’s top court. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission on Tuesday holds a hearing over applications from Chief Justice Jean Toal and Associate Supreme Court Justice Costa Pleicones (pluh-KOH’-nus). Toal’s current term expires next year. Pleicones surprised the state’s legal community earlier this year when he said he opted to challenge her re-election bid. Pleicones has told The Associated Press he felt his decades of judicial experience qualified him for the post. South Carolina has a mandatory judicial retirement age of 72. Toal turned 70 this year. Pleicones is 69. The 10-member commission determines if candidates are qualified for the judicial posts they seek. South Carolina lawmakers later vote to select the state’s judges.