Raleigh, NC–Today Justice Allison Riggs asked the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite review and resolve with finality the merits of the claims in Griffin v. State Board of Elections.
This appeal comes after a majority of the North Carolina Supreme Court granted losing candidate Judge Griffin’s request to stay the certification of Justice Riggs’ win on January 7. The case was remanded back to state court on January 6, and both the North Carolina State Board of Elections and Justice Riggs have appealed the remand decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Voters are entitled to know that their votes matter; that the candidates they choose will assume the offices the voters chose them for, and that their votes cannot be thrown out by disappointed candidates seeking to retroactively gerrymander a win. The public interest in finality is particularly acute here because Judge Griffin’s efforts to disenfranchise voters and to sow doubt about Justice Riggs’ right to “exercise the duties of her office,” threaten to undermine confidence in our elections and judicial system,” writes counsel for Justice Riggs in today’s filing.
Additionally, counsel emphasizes the need for a swift and final resolution. “The Court should expedite this appeal so that [Griffin’s] damaging claims can be heard—and rejected—on the merits as soon as possible. Judge Griffin’s claims turn on, and are barred by, federal law; they should be resolved in federal court.”
“More than two months ago, North Carolina voters went to the polls and elected Justice Allison Riggs to continue serving on our state’s highest court. Her victory has been confirmed by two recounts. Judge Jefferson Griffin has not just refused to concede– he has taken the astonishing step of seeking to toss the ballots of more than 60,000 legal North Carolina voters. Judge Griffin calls into question North Carolinians’ rights under federal law and the US Constitution, and federal court is the proper venue to resolve this matter. The people of North Carolina deserve a swift resolution and Justice Riggs will prevail,” said Embry Owen, spokesperson for the Riggs campaign.