NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs on Election Certification Fight

Unresolved Election and Legal Challenges

• 🗳️ North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs discusses the ongoing, unresolved election from November 2024, five months later, where she won more votes than her opponent, Jefferson Griffin.
• ⚖️ The case is currently before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, with a decision pending from a panel composed of two Republicans and one Democrat.
• ❌ Riggs' opponent's attorneys are seeking to toss 68,000 lawful ballots cast by eligible voters, including those from overseas and deployed military personnel.

Disenfranchisement and Legal Arguments

• 🚫 The core argument against Riggs' opponent is that tossing these ballots constitutes disenfranchisement, violating federal law and the Constitution.
• 📜 The defense claims they want election laws enforced as they existed, but this is disputed, particularly regarding the use of the Yuakava ballot by 32,000 military voters, for whom notices stated a picture ID copy was not required.
• 🚩 Voters are being punished for following the rules as they were communicated, which Riggs argues is not permissible under state or federal law.

Judicial System and Partisan Makeup

• 🏛️ Riggs explains the partisan breakdown of North Carolina's courts: the Court of Appeals has 12 Republicans and 3 Democrats, while the North Carolina Supreme Court has 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats.
• 🧑‍⚖️ Due to recusal, the decision on Riggs' election may fall to the remaining six judges on the state Supreme Court, a majority of whom are Republican.
• 🌐 The case has federal implications, with federal courts having retained jurisdiction and the possibility of appeals to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and potentially the US Supreme Court.

Faith in Institutions and Constitutional Principles

• ✊ Riggs emphasizes her commitment to defending the constitutional rights of all North Carolinians, regardless of their vote, and her oath to uphold the law.
• 🛡️ She believes in the power of democratic institutions, like an independent judiciary, to act as guardrails against corruption and the consolidation of power.
• 🌟 This situation is presented as an opportunity to demonstrate character and constitutional convictions, prioritizing people and the constitution over politics.