The North Carolina Supreme Court denied the state board of elections’ petition to bypass the appeals court level in an ongoing legal bid by GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin to overturn his 2024 election loss. As a result of the court’s 4-2 order issued today, Griffin’s challenge will proceed in the North Carolina Court of Appeals before ultimately ending up in the state Supreme Court — a move that could potentially benefit his legal efforts to unseat incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs.
By contrast, bypass directly to the North Carolina Supreme Court might have been more favorable to Riggs, as it would have enabled a recent Wake County Superior Court ruling rejecting Griffin’s challenge to remain in place if the justices (with Riggs recused) deadlocked in a 3-3 split.
I think they’re saying that going to an appeals court slows it down. That if it went to the NC Supreme Court, they would rule in his favor. I welcome any corrections.