Republican Jefferson Griffin plans to appeal a Wake County court loss in his effort to invalidate more than 60,000 North Carolina ballots cast during the November elections.
Griffin, the GOP candidate in the still-undecided race for a seat on the state Supreme Court, was trailing incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs by 734 votes after multiple recounts — the only unresolved statewide election.
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After the election, Griffin challenged more than 60,000 ballots. He said the voters had inconsistent, incomplete or incorrect information in the state’s voter rolls. Therefore, he argued, their votes shouldn’t have counted. State elections officials rejected that challenge and he appealed through the court system.
Wake County Superior Court Judge William Pittman on Friday ruled that elections officials did nothing wrong when they rejected Griffin's challenge.
Griffin said in court documents Monday that he intends to appeal Pittman’s decision.
Republicans hold strong majorities on the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. There’s a chance the case could ultimately end up in federal court.
Griffin, a judge on the Court of Appeals, told WRAL Monday he won't take part in anything related to the case while it's at the Court of Appeals. Riggs has similarl recused herself from the case while it's in front of the Supreme Court.
Griffin didn't comment further Monday; he has long said he believes it's improper for sitting judges to comment on pending litigation.
Riggs, on the other hand, has frequently commented on the case.
"We’ve known this would be a long fight, and I remain committed to speaking up on behalf of the voters that Jefferson Griffin is seeking to disenfranchise," Riggs wrote in a statement Monday. "As a constitutional officer, I swore an oath to defend our state and federal constitutions and the rule of law. I will continue to uphold my duty, including holding accountable any elected official who thwarts the will of voters."