Judge Orders Certification in NC Supreme Court Race

A federal judge has ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections to certify Democrat Allison Riggs as the winner of the state's contested Supreme Court race, rejecting Republican Jefferson Griffin's effort to invalidate tens of thousands of ballots, including those from overseas military, absentee, and voters flagged for registration issues. U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, a Trump appointee, ruled that retroactively changing election rules or discarding ballots violates due process and equal protection under the Constitution. Recounts have confirmed Riggs' 734-vote lead. The judge also criticized the lack of adequate process for voters misclassified as ineligible. The court order is paused for seven days to allow Griffin to appeal. If upheld, the decision resolves the last unresolved race from the November election and ends nearly six months of legal battles.