Flipping the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2028 is one of state Democrats’ top goals. If the party can bring home a win for incumbent Associate Justice Anita Earls this November, it’ll make things just that much easier.
Democrats held four out of seven seats on the court from 2019-2022, but Republicans secured a 5-2 majority in 2023 after winning state judicial races across the board. In 2024, Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Allison Riggs following Democratic Justice Mike Morgan’s retirement. Riggs won the subsequent election over Republican Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes after months of legal battles in state and federal court.
The Supreme Court is the final arbiter on important political fights like redistricting, and the precedents established by its rulings affect future criminal and civil cases across North Carolina. State law also vests other powers in the Supreme Court, such as approving the Utilities Commission’s approval of rate increases for the likes of Duke Energy. Simply choosing what matters to hear is a crucial role for justices. This year, the court is on track to hear about 60 cases. By comparison, the Court of Appeals hears over 1,000 every year. Justices are gatekeepers — and that gate is narrow.