Harrell’s brother quits judicial screening panel

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The brother of suspended House Speaker Bobby Harrell has quit a panel that screens judicial candidates before recommending finalists to state lawmakers.

The State newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1ncJVFT ) that Charleston attorney John Harrell and Greenville attorney Don Sellers have stepped down from the 10-member Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

The Legislature elects judges from a slate of candidates picked by the panel. Both John Harrell and Sellers were appointed by Speaker Bobby Harrell in 2007.

Last month, the Charleston Republican was indicted on campaign-finance charges. In a series of ethics complaints, the South Carolina Policy Council — a libertarian leaning, pro-limited-government think tank — said the speaker should not have appointed his brother to the commission.

Harrell has stepped down as speaker but says he did nothing wrong.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com