New Accountability Campaign Stresses Importance of State, Local Elections

Pro-democracy groups, legal experts and advocates held a press conference at the North Carolina State Capitol Aug. 20 to launch an “accountability campaign” regarding the upcoming far-right election slate.

Speakers at the Progress NC Action press conference touched on Republican NC Supreme Court Justice candidate Judge Jefferson G. Griffin’s right-wing extremist ideologies and the importance of voting in local and state elections.

Melissa Price Kromm, executive director of NC For the People Action, reminded the audience that despite the gravity of local elections, the 2020 race for Chief Justice was decided by a mere 401 votes.

“State courts, and more importantly, our state constitutions, play a key role in protecting our individuals rights and freedoms, especially now that the US Supreme Court is kicking everything from redistricting to abortion access down to the state courts,” Kromm said.

Kromm said 95% of all court cases go through state courts, with many state constitutions going further than the US Constitution in protecting individual rights and freedoms, including North Carolina’s constitution.

She listed some voter considerations come November:

• How a candidate has decided on an issue previously
• The financial backing of a candidate
• Will they be fair and impartial; will they kowtow to their political party or will they uphold the rule of law
• Does the candidate identify themselves as an “originalist” favoring strict interpretation of the Constitution

Queen City Nerve plans to tackle these and other topics in our upcoming Election Guide.

Currently a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Griffin embraces originalism — an ideology that denies the law should change as society changes. 

His judicial philosophy is stated on his campaign website: “Judge Griffin is an originalist and a textualist. Judge Griffin believes the words of the Constitution mean what they say. Judge Griffin believes in the separation of powers, judicial restraint and the independence of the judiciary.”

Griffin has also shared his conservative stance on felon voting rights, and education and public school funding, according to Kromm.

Read More: 5 Things to Know: GOP Targets NC Justice Anita Earls

“We are at a pivotal moment in North Carolina’s history where the decisions made in our courts will shape the legacy we leave for generations to come,” said Dan Crawford, director of governmental relations for NC League of Conservation Voters.

Crawford voiced his support for NC Supreme Court candidate Allison Riggs “to serve as a check and balance to [the Supreme Court’s] extremism.” Riggs, a Democrat, was appointed to serve in September 2023 and is running for reelection for a full term.

“The challenges we face today — climate change, environmental degradation and threats to our democracy — require a Supreme Court that is not only legally astute, but also deeply committed to the principles of justice and equality,” Crawford said.

North Carolina For the People along with Emancipate NC, Pro-Choice North Carolina Foundation, Democracy NC and Common Cause NC created the website Why Judges Matter to help North Carolinians understand how their state courts impact their daily lives.

Griffin and Riggs will face off for an NC Supreme Court seat in North Carolina’s general election on Nov. 5.