North Carolina Court Ruling Shakes Up 2024 Supreme Court Race

A North Carolina appeals court has delivered a stunning decision favoring Republican Jefferson Griffin in a razor-thin state Supreme Court election, threatening to overturn Democrat Allison Riggs’ narrow lead in the only unresolved 2024 race nationwide.

The 2-1 ruling from the intermediate appeals court found that tens of thousands of ballots may have been improperly counted. It ordered a verification process that could discard votes, potentially handing Griffin the win.

After two recounts, Riggs, the incumbent justice, held a slim 734-vote edge out of over 5.5 million cast. Griffin’s legal challenge targeted more than 65,000 ballots, alleging voter eligibility issues ignored by the state elections board.

The court’s Republican majority, Judges John Tyson and Fred Gore, argued that even one illegal vote undermines a fair election. They reversed a lower court’s dismissal of Griffin’s claims, spotlighting election integrity concerns.

Democrat Judge Toby Hampson dissented, insisting Griffin failed to prove any voter was ineligible under existing rules. He warned that the ruling risks disenfranchising lawful voters based on unproven speculation.

Most challenged ballots lack driver’s license or Social Security numbers on registration records, a long-standing practice. Critics argue retroactively changing rules post-election threatens trust in the democratic process.

The decision gives roughly 65,000 voters 15 business days to verify their identities or lose their votes. This tight window has sparked outrage among Riggs’ supporters, who call it an unfair burden on citizens.

Griffin, a current appeals court judge, recused himself from the case, but his colleagues’ ruling favors him. If upheld, it could shift the state Supreme Court’s balance further right, from a 5-2 to a 6-1 Republican majority.

Riggs’ campaign has vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court, where she serves but will recuse herself. Five of the six remaining justices are Republicans, raising questions about impartiality in the next phase.

The case has drawn national attention as a test of election integrity versus voter rights. Legal experts predict it could escalate to federal courts if state rulings favor Griffin and alter the outcome.

President Trump has not publicly commented, but his administration’s focus on election security aligns with Griffin’s push. Meanwhile, Democrats decry the ruling as an attempt to steal a fair election through judicial overreach.

Whatever the final result, this saga underscores deep divisions over voting rules in America. It may set a precedent for how closely contested races are resolved in the future, with both sides digging in for a prolonged fight.