A State Court judge says South Carolina's Constitution allows legislators to make their own rules about how they make laws. He has squashed a lawsuit challenging a House committee's decision to limit debate on Congressional redistricting.
In an emergency session at the Richland County Judicial Center, Fifth District Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble rejected the suit filed by the ACLU and League of Women Voters. It accused legislative leaders of violating Freedom of Information statues by calling a meeting of the House Rules Committee on redistricting debate Monday night, after posting the notice of it on the House Website less than 10 minutes prior.
Judge Coble ruled that the Freedom of Information Act 24 hours of public notice does not apply to this case. He cited part of South Carolina's constitution that reads: "Each house in the General Assembly determines its rules of procedure free from interference from the judicial and executive branches."
