TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE”: JUSTICE ALLISON RIGGS ASKS FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS TO PROTECT VOTERS’ RIGHTS
Raleigh, NC – Justice Allison Riggs asked the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to act to ensure that the federal law questions in Griffin v. State Board of Elections are heard in federal court. She also asked the court to deny Judge Griffin’s request to toss more than 60,000 North Carolinians’ ballots.
Justice Riggs won the election for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice in November 2024. More than two months after the election, losing candidate and sitting Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin still has not acknowledged the will of North Carolinian voters and conceded. Along with the Republican National Committee and the NC Republican Party, he has launched an all-out assault on voters’ rights in state and federal court, filing multiple lawsuits in an attempt to overturn his electoral loss.
Griffin v. State Board of Elections is currently being briefed in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, with oral argument set for January 27. It is also being briefed in the North Carolina Supreme Court.
“Judge Griffin is jeopardizing voters’ fundamental rights under federal law and the United States Constitution. Rather than respecting the will of his fellow North Carolinians, he is asking the courts to throw out the ballots of active duty members of the military, local elected officials, and individuals who have voted for decades without issue. North Carolinians deserve finality in this election, and certainty that their votes will count. For her entire career, Justice Riggs has defended North Carolinians’ rights to make their voices heard at the ballot box. She will continue to do this, and uphold her constitutional oath as a justice, to ensure every legal vote is counted,” said Embry Owen, spokesperson for the Riggs campaign.
Justice Riggs’ legal counsel emphasizes that voters decide elections, and losing candidates do not get to change the rules after the polls have closed. “Candidates such as Judge Griffin who seek to bring grievances based on election laws have a duty to bring their complaints forward for pre-election adjudication. Judge Griffin cannot gamble upon receiving a favorable decision of the electorate and then, upon losing, seek to undo the ballot results in a court action,” writes counsel in Riggs’ legal filing.