Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Certifying North Carolina Supreme Court Election

In a significant legal development, a federal judge has mandated the certification of the North Carolina Supreme Court election results, favoring Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers issued the directive on Monday, amidst ongoing legal disputes spearheaded by Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin regarding the November election results.

Background of the Dispute

The controversy centers around the handling of certain contested ballots. Previously, the North Carolina Supreme Court had ruled in a 4-2 decision that ballots with missing information, such as Social Security numbers, should still be considered valid. This decision was part of a broader interpretation by the court that errors made by election officials should not disenfranchise eligible voters or invalidate their votes post-casting.

However, the ruling also acknowledged that some ballots, particularly those from overseas and military voters requiring identity verification, could be discarded. This aspect of the decision has been a focal point in Judge Griffin’s challenge.

Details of Judge Myers’s Ruling

Judge Myers’s ruling on Monday emphasized the importance of counting the ballots challenged by Griffin. He highlighted that retroactively invalidating absentee ballots from overseas military and civilian voters would infringe upon their substantive due process rights. Myers criticized the attempt to alter the election rules after the fact, describing Griffin’s challenges as an effort to “change the rules of the game after it had been played.”

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The ruling grants Judge Griffin a seven-day period to file an appeal before it becomes effective.

Reactions to the Ruling

Justice Riggs responded to the ruling with a celebratory message on X, expressing her satisfaction and commitment to her role. “Today, we won,” she posted. “I’m proud to continue upholding the Constitution and the rule of law as North Carolina’s Supreme Court justice,” Riggs added, reaffirming her dedication to her judicial responsibilities.