NC Supreme Court Archives

North Carolina justices block certification of election outcome in race for one of its own seats

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has blocked the certification of a November election result for one of the seats on its court so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate. The Republican-dominated court on Tuesday issued the temporary stay sought by GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin. He is trailing Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs by just 734 votes. Griffin wants over 60,000 ballots removed from the tally because he contends they were cast improperly. Without the stay, the state was prepared to issue a certificate for Riggs on Friday confirming her victory. The stay was issued after a federal judge said a state court should consider Griffin’s litigation.cc… Continue Reading

Republican protests in close North Carolina races dismissed by elections board

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s elections board has dismissed protests filed by several Republican candidates trailing narrowly in their races last month who have questioned well over 60,000 ballots cast this fall. The Democratic-majority board agreed Wednesday to throw out the protests of GOP Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin and three legislative candidates. Members voted mostly along party lines. Griffin was fewer than 750 votes behind Demcoratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs from over 5.5 million ballots cast. The board’s decisions can be appealed to state court. One legislative race at issue could end the Republicans’ GOP veto-proof majority come next year.… Continue Reading

Democrat keeps slight lead for North Carolina Supreme Court as counties finish count

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The final counts by counties are about over and a Democratic incumbent on North Carolina’s Supreme Court has an ever-slight lead over a Republican challenger. Associate Justice Allison Riggs had trailed on election night by roughly 10,000 votes to Jefferson Griffin. But that margin dwindled last week as provisional and absentee ballots were considered. Riggs overtook Griffin and led by over 600 votes late Monday. Griffin can request a recount by Tuesday. A handful of legislative districts also remained close, including a state House race that if the margin holds for the Democrat would end the veto-proof majority that Republicans have held within the General Assembly.… Continue Reading

North Carolina court race is extremely close as counties complete election tallies

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An already close race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat reached a razor-thin margin as most counties completed final tallies from the Nov. 5 election. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin were essentially even as of Friday night. The margin is within the range for the trailing candidate to seek a recount. County election boards met to consider provisional or absentee ballots and certify local results. Several county boards likely will finish work Monday. Complete, canvassed results in areas with very close legislative races still indicate that Republicans are unlikely to maintain their veto-proof majority in the General Assembly come January.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s highest court hears challenge to law allowing more time for child sex abuse suits

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court is weighing whether a state law that gave adults who were victims of child sexual abuse two additional years to seek civil damages is constitutional or not. The state Supreme Court heard Wednesday five cases involving individuals who sued based on changes in a 2019 law. Victims used to have until age 21 to sue. The law raised that age but also gave other victims whose time period still had expired to file lawsuits in 2020 or 2021. The court gave no indication when it would rule on the constitutionality. Since 2002, 30 states revived previously expired child sex abuse claims with expansions of claim periods.… Continue Reading