{"id":2425144,"date":"2025-04-18T14:58:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-project-blasts-egregious-double-standard-in-nc-supreme-court-race-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-18T15:00:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T19:00:51","slug":"justice-project-blasts-egregious-double-standard-in-nc-supreme-court-race-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-project-blasts-egregious-double-standard-in-nc-supreme-court-race-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Justice Project blasts &#8216;egregious double standard&#8217; in NC Supreme Court race &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjustice-project-blasts-egregious-double-standard-in-nc-supreme-court-race-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2425144&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In the unfolding North Carolina Supreme Court election, Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin has challenged the legality of thousands of ballots, leading to accusations of a \u201cdouble standard\u201d from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sheldon-whitehouse-invited-three-dark-money-critics-to-testify-to-congress-they-all-take-dark-money\/\" title=\"Sheldon Whitehouse Invited Three Dark Money Critics To Testify to Congress. They All Take Dark Money.\">judicial advocacy group<\/a>. Griffin is contesting the results where Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs is reportedly leading by 734 votes, claiming eligibility issues wiht about 60,000 ballots. His efforts to halt the election certification have lasted for months, culminating in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/famous-nyc-bar-bans-budweiser-products-during-pride-weekend-claiming-company-has-supported-anti-lgbtq-politicians\/\" title=\"Famous NYC Bar Bans Budweiser Products During Pride ...end, Claiming Company Has Supported \u2018Anti-LGBTQ\u2019 Politicians\">recent court decision<\/a> that mandates a 30-day period for affected voters to rectify their ballots. Critics, including the Justice Project, argue Griffin\u2019s legal strategies are partisan and aim to disenfranchise voters, including military ballots from predominantly Democratic counties. Prominent Republican officials are urging Griffin to concede the election, while comparisons have been drawn between Griffin&#8217;s approach and former President Trump\u2019s election denial tactics. The outcome of this election is significant for the court&#8217;s balance, with a Riggs victory maintaining a 5-2 Republican advantage, while a Griffin victory may expand it to 6-1.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judicial advocacy group attacks Republican candidate for &lsquo;double standard&rsquo; in North Carolina Supreme Court lawsuit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2039671\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE<\/strong> <strong>&mdash;<\/strong> The 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"North Carolina\">North Carolina<\/a> Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3335498\/why-is-north-carolina-supreme-court-race-still-undecided\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"North Carolina\">race<\/a> remains uncertified after Republican Jefferson Griffin challenged the legality of thousands of ballots, a legal strategy a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/experts-warn-hawaiis-extreme-climate-ruling-is-a-stalking-horse-for-green-new-deal\/\" title=\"Hawaii&#039;s Landmark Climate Ruling Seen as Path to Green New Deal\">judicial advocacy group called<\/a> an &ldquo;egregious double standard.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Recounts showed Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs leading Griffin by 734 votes. However, Griffin challenged the eligibility of roughly 60,000 ballots, halting the race&rsquo;s certification for months. The case&rsquo;s most recent court decision led to as many as 1,675 votes needing <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.nced.214953\/gov.uscourts.nced.214953.61.0_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">to be &ldquo;cured&rdquo;<\/a> in order to count, but Griffin has fought for more ballots to be included in the review. The court said it would enact a 30-day period during which affected voters may &ldquo;cure,&rdquo; or fix, their ballots by providing an ID.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3384275\/doj-tries-to-step-in-for-trump-in-e-jean-carroll-appeal\/\">DOJ tries to step in for Trump in E. Jean Carroll appeal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3384057\/abrego-garcia-case-legal-word-games\/\">Abrego Garcia case hinges on legal word games<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3384037\/doj-defends-white-house-ap-ban-appeals-court\/\">&#8216;Dignitary harm&#8217;: DOJ defends White House AP ban at appeals court<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A memo from the Justice Project, exclusively given to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, argues the GOP candidate&rsquo;s legal challenge is based on a &ldquo;hope that extreme partisanship in state courts will eliminate votes&rdquo; that were already certified in various other contests, including wins by President Donald Trump and Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Griffin&rsquo;s case looks even worse after his filing this week, which exposed missed deadlines and demonstrable errors in his legal team&rsquo;s submissions,&rdquo; Andrew Bates, former Biden White House senior deputy press secretary and adviser to the Justice Project, said in the memo.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He is now demanding an egregious double standard: that North Carolina overturn an election multiple recounts affirm he lost by retroactively changing existing law in order to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">reject legally-cast military ballots &#038;mdash<\/a>; based on his sloppy, improperly-filed legal briefs,&rdquo; Bates added.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Project describes itself as a &ldquo;nonpartisan organization dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the independence of American courts.&rdquo; The memo is being sent to veterans and legal organizations and &ldquo;center-right individuals and groups,&rdquo; the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> learned.<\/p>\n<p>Griffin&rsquo;s arguments have centered on the legality of the registration of the 60,000 voters, saying they did not provide photo identification, in violation of state law, or did not have a driver&rsquo;s license or Social Security number on file. In his latest state court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinajournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/griffin-nccoa-041625.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"filing\">filing<\/a>, Griffin argued the state elections board defied last week&rsquo;s state Supreme Court ruling, and he called for further orders tossing out &ldquo;never resident&rdquo; votes.<\/p>\n<p>The memo accuses Griffin&rsquo;s campaign of targeting military and overseas ballots in predominantly Democratic counties, pointing to a <em>ProPublica<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/jefferson-griffin-military-absentee-votes-north-carolina-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"report\">report<\/a> showing Griffin previously voted using the method.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Imagine the Republican reaction if, after losing an election and two recounts, a Democratic candidate sued to throw out military ballots in 4 Republican-leaning counties on the grounds that those voters followed federal law,&rdquo; the memo says.<\/p>\n<p>Bates also pointed to various Republican officials who have called on Griffin to give up his legal fight and concede the election to Riggs. Some of the GOP officials he lists include former Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wral.com\/news\/state\/nc-ad-republican-challenges-gop-ballot-toss-jan-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Pat McCrory<\/a> (R-NC) and state Supreme Court Justice Richard Dietz.<\/p>\n<p>Dietz&rsquo;s opinion from last week, in which he called for a &ldquo;decisive rejection of this sort of post hoc judicial tampering in election results,&rdquo; is referred to in the memo.<\/p>\n<p>He also compared Griffin&rsquo;s tactics to those used by Trump during his unsuccessful election challenges following his 2020 election loss.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Not only is Griffin&rsquo;s legal strategy copied from the campaign whose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/larry-oconnor-twitter-censorship-was-never-about-safety\/\" title=\"Larry O\u2019Connor: Twitter Censorship Was Never About \u201cSafety\u201d\">election denial led<\/a> to an unprecedented violent assault on the Capitol, it&rsquo;s also running into a similar problem: the facts,&rdquo; Bates said.<\/p>\n<p>The memo concludes by citing reports that cast doubt on several of Griffin&rsquo;s claims of illegal or ineligible voters. It also concludes that the most recent recount tally showing the Republican losing to the incumbent proves voters were &ldquo;right about this sore loser.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Taken together, the loser of last year&rsquo;s N.C. Supreme Court race thinks taking power is more important than the sacred right of servicemen and women to participate in elections &mdash; and that manufactured technicalities are enough to disenfranchise those Americans, but that the actual rules should not apply to him,&rdquo; it says.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3373146\/north-carolina-supreme-court-pauses-voter-eligibility-review-race-riggs-griffin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT PAUSES VOTER ELIGIBILITY REVIEW IN TIGHT CONTEST\">NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT PAUSES VOTER ELIGIBILITY REVIEW IN TIGHT CONTEST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Revealingly, this may be the only time in American history that a judicial candidate is whining in court about voters not breaking the law. That double standard, and the incompetence with which it has been demonstrated, proves that North Carolina was right about this sore loser,&rdquo; the memo concludes.<\/p>\n<p>The balance of the high court is not at risk of changing with this election, but Republicans could further solidify their majority if Griffin wins the contest. The high court, not counting Riggs&rsquo;s seat, has a 5-1 Republican majority. A Riggs victory would keep the court at a 5-2 GOP advantage, while a Griffin victory would increase the Republican advantage to 6-1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2039671\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2039671\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judicial group criticizes GOP candidate for &#8216;double standard&#8217; in NC Supreme Court case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2425145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/north-carolina-supreme-court-race-2024.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40615,32644,4901,36913,45304],"class_list":["post-2425144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-double-standard","tag-election-integrity","tag-justice","tag-legal-ethics","tag-nc-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/north-carolina-supreme-court-race-2024.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2425144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2425144"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2425144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2425148,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2425144\/revisions\/2425148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2425145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2425144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2425144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2425144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}