NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The race for a seat on North Carolina's Supreme Court is one of the most significant contests for voters in the 2024 election.
Incumbent Justice Allison Riggs, is facing Republican Jefferson Griffin, a North Carolina appeals judge in the race.
The North Carolina Supreme Court is the state’s highest court, responsible for reviewing legal procedures and interpretations of the law. The court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices, all elected to eight-year terms. Currently, five justices are Republicans and two are Democrats.
The seat up for election is one of the Democratic positions currently held by Riggs. North Carolina is one of eight states that conduct partisan elections for the Supreme Court, a practice this year’s candidates debate.
Riggs explained that she runs with a party affiliation out of necessity.
“One of the critiques of the judiciary is that our judicial races have become partisan,” she said. “But I tell folks I'm not a policymaker. The Republican legislature decided to make these races partisan. Those are the rules of the game under which I am forced to operate.”
She noted that many Supreme Court candidates receive donations from lawyers and law firms during their campaigns but emphasized her commitment to impartiality.
“I'm going to do my best to ensure that voters understand who I am and what my values are," Riggs said. "I care about the integrity and perception of the bench."
Griffin contended that partisanship in this race reflects an ideological divide between conservative and liberal jurists.
“I think North Carolinians would probably like seven conservative jurists in the state," Griffin said. "It's not necessarily political; it's ideological. I believe North Carolinians want judges who apply the law as it’s written.”
He also suggested that party affiliation can enhance voter participation in Supreme Court elections, referencing the 2016 election when nearly 250,000 more people voted in the Court of Appeals race than in the Supreme Court race.
“That means they skipped the Supreme Court race and went down the ballot,” he said. “I don't know what other reason you would find other than it had party labels on there. So it does give voters more information.”
The candidates differ notably on reproductive rights. Riggs reaffirmed her commitment to reproductive health, citing her personal connection to the issue.
“I'm the only woman of childbearing age on either of our appellate courts, and I'm newlywed. We hope to start a family,” she said. “I know that I may need access to reproductive health care, whether it’s fertility treatments or IVF.”
Riggs emphasized that reproductive freedom is a key concern for voters in 2024.
"Voters want to know that the people they elect are committed to keeping women safe," she said.
In contrast, Griffin maintained that he would enforce existing laws as written, noting that abortion is permitted up to 12 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and fetal anomalies. Griffin said he believes "that issue is settled," reiterating his commitment to adhering to the law without personal interpretation.
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