Civitas lawyers in ballot case have ties to McCrory
The two lawyers bringing a case to throw out more than 3,000 ballots both have ties to the McCrory administration. The governor has turned down the state board's request to hire certain lawyers from the Brooks Pierce law firm.
Posted — UpdatedMcCrory, a Republican, trails Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat, in this year's gubernatorial race by about 10,000 votes.
While 90,000 voters cast ballots through the same-day process this year, the nonprofit estimates some 3,000 ballots are actually in question.
Lawyers in the case are supposed to have briefs to the court by Monday, and a hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.
"These lawyers have no conflict of interest," said Francis De Luca, president of the Civitas Institute. "You would be hard-pressed to find any lawyers with election expertise to represent us who probably have not had some kind of appointment or connection with Republican administration."
"At the time, the state had zero attorneys and one day until the brief was due," said Patrick Gannon, a spokesman for the board.
Since then, he said, deadlines in the case have been moved back, and both Lawson and fellow state board attorney Katelyn Love have had a chance file necessary paperwork in the case.
At this point, Gannon said, the state isn't looking at hiring additional outside counsel to handle next week's hearing regarding a potential temporary restraining order in the case. Thomas Ziko, whom McCrory did sign off on, has not yet officially been hired by the board and won't be available next week because he is traveling, Gannon said.
Gannon declined to comment regarding links between the Civitas lawyers and the McCrory administration.
McCrory's press office did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment either Tuesday or Wednesday.
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