Law and the Courts

Republican Mark Harris’ margin of victory in the 9th congressional district race is in question because of alleged election fraud, and a judge ruled Tuesday the results wouldn’t be certified until the State Board of Elections gets to the bottom of it all.

North Carolina has less than a year of transition time as it raises the age of juvenile jurisdiction and there’s still a lot of work and resources needed to make it happen.

“Is this person a citizen of the United States?” To some that might seem like a simple question to put on the 2020 census, but to some already undercounted populations it perpetuates fear and creates a real possibility for their communities to lose resources.

Raising the age of juvenile justice in North Carolina this year is going to come with a steep price tag, but there are 20,000 kids with their futures at stake counting on the adults in charge to get it right.

There weren’t the same fireworks in the courts world this year, but there certainly was plenty of news to reflect back on. Lawmakers have been in session a large part of the year, and working on things like voter ID, changing the Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement and working out a deal on judicial redistricting.

Governor calls on lawmakers to "fix" elections bill that would expand secrecy “Democracy dies in darkness” isn’t a new phrase but it’s certainly one that has gotten a lot of attention in the Trump era. North Carolina Republicans, though, are apparently working from a different playbook, and give evidence of wanting to dim the lights dramatically.

Perhaps the sixth time is the charm? Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett) unveiled another attempt Tuesday by Republican legislators to restructure the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement — this time through a process that is fast tracked and can’t be changed by anyone.

It was clear during two hours of debate Wednesday where the two political parties at the legislature diverged over photo ID: their belief in voter fraud. The GOP supermajority expectedly passed legislation that would implement a constitutional requirement that voters must show a photo ID to cast a ballot.

Lawmakers didn’t waste any time creating a voter ID bill after North Carolinians passed a constitutional amendment in the midterm elections. The Senate has already passed Senate Bill 824, a measure that will require North Carolina voters present a valid photo identification before casting an in-person ballot.

The voter ID bill moving through the legislature is not as “restrictive or burdensome” as some Democrats feared but it is still flawed and rushed, according to the most recent Senate debate. Republican Senators and three Democrats passed a second reading Wednesday night of Senate Bill 824...

In less than one week, after all the tryptophan has worn off, lawmakers will be back in Raleigh working on a measure that will require North Carolina voters to have a photo identification to cast a ballot. Residents voted on an amendment to enshrine such a requirement in the state constitution.

Breaking the Republicans’ veto-proof majority was the Democrats’ and voting rights activists’ short game. Their long game? Ending partisan gerrymandering for good in North Carolina. Common Cause, the North Carolina Democratic Party and a group of individual voters filed a lawsuit earlier this week in Wake County Superior Court challenging the...

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.