NC Supreme Court News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

NC Supreme Court case tackles limits on private schools

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty looks into whether North Carolina private schools can expel a student because of something the parent said or did.

New trial over Cooper's covid lockdowns ordered by NC Supreme Court

Former Gov. Roy Cooper's Covid-19 lockdown rules should be put on trial, the state's highest court ordered, in a win for business owners seeking restitution.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

North Carolina elections officials make major changes to overseas and military voting

North Carolina elections officials made major changes to overseas and military voting rules Monday in response to court rulings in the 2024 race for a state supreme court seat. Some say those changes should have been made by lawmakers, not officials..

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Trump, Tillis, and NC Supreme Court races: NC GOP chairman discusses the year ahead

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons recently spoke to WRAL about Republican Jefferson Griffin's failed state Supreme Court challenge, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis's upcoming reelection bid and more.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Allison Riggs officially sworn in as NC Supreme Court Justice

NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs won the 2024 election for her seat on the court by defeating Republican Jefferson Griffin. The race attracted national attention for her Griffin's attempt to overturn the result by throwing out thousands of voters' ballots.

Following Griffin case, NC voters face new election rules. Here's what might change

Hundreds of thousands of NC voters, including 100% of overseas voters as well as many others living inside the state, could be affected by changes to election rules following Jefferson Griffin's lawsuit.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Practice makes perfect for Judge Griffin

Sunday, May 11, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Six months later: Allison Riggs declared winner of NC Supreme Court seat after Jefferson Griffin concedes

The Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat conceded last November's election on Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.

Jefferson Griffin concedes NC Supreme Court race to incumbent Allison Riggs

Jefferson Griffin, the Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, conceded last November's election on Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.

Republican Jefferson Griffin concedes long-unsettled NC Supreme Court election to Democrat Allison Riggs

Griffin said he wouldn't appeal a federal court decision that ordered state elections officials to count thousands of ballots that the Republican disputed. The concession sets the stage for Riggs to be officially elected to an eight-year term as an associate justice on the state's highest court.

Gary D. Robertson, Associated Press

Federal judge tells state board to certify Riggs' victory in disputed NC Supreme Court race

A federal judge ordered North Carolina elections officials to certify Democrat Allison Riggs' narrow victory in the November election for a seat on the state Supreme Court. GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin has seven days to appeal.

Jack Hagel and Brian Murphy, WRAL News

A lengthy legal battle in North Carolina could show how to flip an election

For months, Republicans in North Carolina have tried to do what President Donald Trump and his allies could not in 2020: overturn an election that did not go their way.

Nick Corasaniti and Eduardo Medina, New York Times

Q&A: Federal court temporarily blocks ballot verification process

North Carolina elections officials may not yet start the process to throw out potentially thousands of votes from the 2024 elections, federal judges ordered Tuesday night in a case that could decide who wins a seat on the state Supreme Court.

Federal court temporarily blocks NC from taking steps to throw out ballots in Griffin-Riggs lawsuit

Federal courts will allow NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs to pursue her claim that her colleagues on the state's highest court are violating voters' constitutional rights by ruling in favor of election claims by Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Hammer Time for Free and Fair Elections

Wednesday, April 23, 2025--Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Legal battle over NC ballots now plays out on two fronts with Supreme Court seat on the line

With the NC Supreme Court's ruling in Jefferson Griffin's favor now spawning multiple other lawsuits, it's likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually be asked to step in and have the final say.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC Supreme Court lawsuit: Voters ask federal court to stop elections board from tossing their ballots

The lawsuit seeks to keep the state from requiring photo IDs for 5,500 military and overseas absentee voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican Jefferson Griffin. The voters say state law doesn't require them to show ID.

Jack Hagel, WRAL News

Justice Allison Riggs speaks out in Raleigh, Durham after state Supreme Court decision

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs on Monday headlined a "Protect Our Votes" rally at Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Raleigh.

Justice Allison Riggs, NC voters speak out against tossing overseas ballots

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs joins voters to speak out against throwing out military and overseas absentee ballots from the contested November 2024 election days after a State Supreme Court ruling.

Justice Riggs speaks in Durham one day after North Carolina Supreme Court Decision

Justice Allison Riggs spoke at a conference in Durham, one of the four counties where ballots are being challenged. This comes just one day after the State Supreme Court voted to throw out ballots in contested November 2024 election.

Reaction follows the state Supreme Court's decision to not hear case after winning court of appeals

Governor Josh Stein has strong reaction following the state supreme court's decision ruling thousands of ballots can be thrown in 2024 election. He called the decision unconscionable.

NC Supreme Court votes to throw out some, but not all, ballots contested in 2024 race for seat on court

Republican Jefferson Griffin's challenges against several thousand voters will be allowed to go through -- an outcome that could help him secure a seat on the state's highest court. One GOP justice broke ranks, calling the order 'judicial tampering in election results.'

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin asks NC Supreme Court not to hear lawsuit over his attempt to toss 65k ballots from 2024

Jefferson Griffin, who is running for a seat on the state Supreme Court, is now asking the court not to hear the lawsuit involving his attempt to throw out thousands of 2024 ballots. If the high court agrees, it would leave Griffin the winner in the race, pending any federal challenges.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC Supreme Court temporarily blocks court order to throw out 2024 ballots in Riggs-Griffin race

Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin won a challenge against more than 60,000 ballots at the state Court of Appeals, but the order in his favor is blocked from going into place while it's appealed.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC Supreme Court race: Appeals court rules in favor of Jefferson Griffin

A Republican judge's effort to throw out 65,000 voters' ballots from the 2024 NC Supreme Court election is valid, his Republican colleagues on the state Court of Appeals ruled in a decision split down party lines.