CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the race for the North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice seat, the candidates, Allison Riggs (D) and Jefferson Griffin (R), present starkly different judicial philosophies and policy priorities.
Allison Riggs
Riggs is the Democratic incumbent, appointed in 2023 to fill a vacancy. Her background includes 14 years at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, where she was a champion for voting rights, often challenging voter ID laws and gerrymandering. Riggs takes a progressive stance on issues like education funding, advocating for increased school resources, as shown in her dissent in the Leandro case. She also emphasizes the importance of campaign finance reform and unions, and her judicial philosophy aligns closely with that of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Riggs is endorsed by organizations like the Sierra Club and Pro-Choice NC, reflecting her progressive support base.
Jefferson Griffin
A Republican and former Wake County District Court Judge, Griffin was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2020. His judicial philosophy is conservative, identifying as an originalist and textualist, similar to U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. Griffin has taken positions against abortion, as seen in his concurrence on a ruling that life begins at conception. He has also sided with restricting felon voting rights and limiting state education funding in the Leandro case. His campaign is backed by law enforcement and GOP-aligned groups.
This race highlights key ideological differences, with Riggs focusing on civil rights and social justice, while Griffin emphasizes conservative judicial restraint and traditional values.
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