Law and the Courts

The North Carolina courts have a lot to celebrate after Tuesday night – voter turnout in statewide judicial races was higher than the past three midterm elections, voters elected the first openly LGBTQ candidate in any statewide political race and there was a rebuke on lawmakers’ efforts to politicize the judicial branch.

One of the major themes at a statewide conference this week for recovery court personnel was stigma. “It’s important to smash the stigma in all settings, but especially this one,” said Donald McDonald, Executive Director of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina. “Stigma keeps us from doing our best work for the people we serve.”

The state's three Supreme Court candidates answered several questions Tuesday night in a debate fit for a legal crowd. It was clear the debate was meant to educate voters about the judicial system, but the questions were ripe with legal jargon and philosophy that would likely send a layperson straight to Google.

It’s not a matter of if another school shooting like the one in Parkland, Florida, will happen again, it’s a matter of when, and that fear is giving rise to a new generation of activists.

Early voting has begun, and North Carolinians are turning out in droves at the polls. It’s a big year for the state’s midterm elections — voters get to decide if the GOP will keep its legislative supermajority and if six of their constitutional amendments will pass.

Early voting starts today, which means North Carolinians will finally get to decide on six proposed constitutional amendments, including one that would bolster victims’ rights.

If Janice Franklin has an extra $10 to spare, she’s not thinking about using it to buy a photo identification so she can vote.

“If I get $10 in my hand, I’m going to get a prescription or food because I probably had to hold off to pay the light bill,” she said.

Bipartisanship has become rare in North Carolina, but lawmakers put their differences aside Tuesday to take their first step toward helping those impacted by Hurricane Florence.

For most, news of an impending hurricane means picking up some bread and an extra case of water, fueling up the gas tank and deciding whether to evacuate. For some businesses though, that same news means dollar signs – it creates an opportunity to take advantage of desperate people planning for the worst.

It’s still not clear exactly how much damage Hurricane Florence left in her wake, but "the show must go on" for election officials and organizations dedicated to getting out the vote in the November midterm elections.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has finally released its report and recommendations on minority voting rights and access around the country after holding a public briefing in Raleigh earlier this year. The report found that new laws and voting procedures – particularly in many states previously covered under the preclearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act (which includes North Carolina) – are impacting voter access.

If North Carolina election officials are forced to comply with federal subpoenas for election data, the government would have information about how more than two million people voted over the past eight years.

The clock has almost run out for ballot litigation, but in what seems to have become true North Carolina fashion, there will likely be more delay.

There were five pending lawsuits that could affect the November ballot — now there are three. Lawmakers had tried to address some court issues by rewriting two of the six proposed constitutional amendments in question but have just come under more legal fire.

The clock is ticking in North Carolina.

Five separate lawsuits have to be resolved before voters can cast their ballots, and there are only eight days left for the courts to render resolutions.

Litigation over the November election ballot is not likely to end anytime soon, but absentee by-mail voting will probably be cut short.

A three-judge panel ordered Wednesday that the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement halt...

Wake County judge rejects legislature's last-minute rule change on candidate party affiliation Legislators cannot reach back in time and change the rules of an election after the fact, a Wake County Superior Court judge ruled Monday. Judge Rebecca Holt issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement from printing any election ballots that do not reflect judicial candidates Chris Anglin’s and Rebecca Edwards’ chosen party affiliations.