RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2025) — A broad coalition of nonpartisan civic engagement groups and more than two dozen North Carolina voters filed an amicus brief Monday in a legal case where a trailing N.C. Supreme Court candidate wants to invalidate tens of thousands of votes.
Represented by attorneys at Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Forward Justice, the voter and civil rights groups filed the amicus brief in advance of a hearing Friday in Wake County Superior Court in Raleigh. The groups and voters are urging the court to uphold the fundamental rights of North Carolina’s voters and reject N.C. Supreme Court candidate Judge Jefferson Griffin’s extraordinary request to disenfranchise more than 60,000 voters.
“These are voters who have not only done nothing wrong, but who in fact followed all the rules that were asked of them,” the amicus brief states. “Stunningly, Judge Griffin fails to allege any evidence that even a single one of these voters is actually ineligible to vote in North Carolina—only that they should have anticipated his unprecedented challenges and followed an alternative hypothetical set of rules, never provided to them by the state, when casting their ballot.”
“North Carolinians almost two months ago elected Justice Riggs as their candidate of choice for NC Supreme Court Justice. This was confirmed by our state’s canvassing process and two recounts. Yet, rather than accepting these results, her opponent without any evidence declares over 60,000 voters ballots should be canceled for this race,” said Katelin Kaiser, Policy Director with Democracy North Carolina. “Judge Griffin’s challenge is not only deceptive but attacks the dignity of impacted voters, including those highlighted in the amicus brief. As we are now in February — Black History Month — Democracy NC will continue to stand up against voter suppression in all its forms.”
The following nonpartisan voting and civil rights organizations joining the brief are:
N.C. State Conference of the NAACP
N.C. Black Alliance
Common Cause Education Fund
Democracy North Carolina
El Pueblo
N.C. Asian Americans Together
N.C. Poor People’s Campaign
The brief details the experiences of more than two dozen North Carolinians being challenged by Griffin who followed all election rules when they voted early, by mail, or while overseas. In addition, it includes a verified list of more than 1,000 registered voters who are speaking out against being challenged wrongfully in this election by Griffin.
Background: Griffin, the Republican candidate for last year’s N.C. Supreme Court race, has challenged the validity of more than 60,000 votes cast by North Carolinians in an attempt to win his race. Justice Allison Riggs, the Democrat candidate and incumbent, had her 734-vote lead from November’s election confirmed in two recounts but the election has yet to be certified due to Griffin’s legal challenges in both state and federal courts.
What’s next: A hearing on Griffin’s protests will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at the Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh.
Note to reporters: Several of the impacted voters included in the amicus brief are available to speak to the media. Please email sarah@scsj.org or bcheatham@forwardjustice.org to arrange interviews.
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Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase civic participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and remove systemic barriers to voting and serving in elected office. Learn more at democracync.org.
Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org.
Forward Justice is a nonpartisan law, policy and strategy center dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. South. Our work catalyzes success for social movements and expands opportunities for people affected by injustice. Learn more at www.ForwardJustice.org.