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Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Long-running legal saga over N.C. Supreme Court race could pave way for future election challenges, critics warn
Nearly six months after the North Carolina Supreme Court election took place, the contest still hasn't been called and a winner still hasn't been certified. That's almost entirely due to a barrage of litigation from Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, who sued for more than 65,000 ballots to be thrown out after they had been cast, triggering a sprawling legal saga that is testing some of the most solid precedents of election law. The effort, if successful, could be more than enough to swing the results of the election, as Griffin currently trails Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs by roughly 700 votes. But even if the push ultimately falls short, Griffin's critics, who include members of both parties, say it could have long-lasting consequences and pave the way for more candidates to pursue challenges — no matter how legally questionable — to the results of elections decided by narrow margins. 'This is clearly an attempt to manipulate the law and the courts into changing an election result by changing the rules after the election has been held,' said Ann Webb, a policy director with the North Carolina chapter of Common Cause, a government watchdog group. Griffin's arguments, Webb said, 'require the courts to say, 'Yes, it's OK to ask us to change the rules after the election is done.' And that is where we really see something different and something scary, because there is nothing stopping other candidates from any party in the future from using that same strategy and pointing back to this case.' In an interview, Riggs called Griffin's legal approach 'insidious' and warned that it would likely be mimicked if it is successful. 'It's a North Carolina problem today, but it's a Michigan and Arizona and Georgia problem tomorrow,' she said, referencing other closely divided battleground states. Even some North Carolina Republicans have called for Griffin to throw in the towel. 'I wanted the Republican judge to win because his philosophy more aligns with me,' former GOP Gov. Pat McCrory told local news outlet ABC11 this week. 'He was defeated.' 'You abide by the rules before the election. It's like changing a penalty call after the Super Bowl is over. You don't do that,' McCrory said, adding that voters 'voted based upon the rule set.' In addition, Republican-led groups are running ads in the state calling for Griffin to end his litigation. A spokesperson for Griffin didn't respond to questions from NBC News for this story. In an email, North Carolina GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer accused Democrats of not being able to 'make an argument on the merits of Judge Griffin's case because they know following the law is not controversial.' 'If Democrats were being truthful, they'd simply admit they don't actually care about honest elections and are only interested in partisan outcomes,' Mercer added. The North Carolina GOP partnered with Griffin in his original litigation in the state court system. Riggs, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2023, emerged after Election Day last November narrowly ahead of Griffin, a state appeals court judge. A full machine recount as well as a partial hand recount of the race both showed Riggs leading Griffin by 734 votes out of 5.5 million ballots cast. Griffin subsequently filed legal challenges, backed by the North Carolina GOP, across the state, alleging that more than 65,000 people had voted illegally. The claims focused on three categories of voters: voters who Griffin's lawyers claimed didn't have driver's licenses or Social Security numbers on file in their voter registration records; overseas voters who haven't lived in North Carolina; and overseas voters who failed to provide photo identification with their ballots. A series of nuanced and complex court rulings have since followed from North Carolina state courts — including the Supreme Court, the bench that the winner of this election will join — and federal courts. (Griffin and Riggs have recused themselves from the matter when the issue came before the courts they serve on.) The latest development came Tuesday, when a federal appeals court temporarily blocked North Carolina election officials from moving forward with a period that would allow thousands of military and overseas voters to 'cure' their ballots after that had been ordered by the North Carolina Supreme Court. In that decision earlier this month, the state Supreme Court ruled that about 60,000 of the votes in question cannot be thrown out, but that others could be if minor errors were not fixed, meaning those voters would be required to prove their eligibility to election officials. Critics of Griffin's strategy say his arguments contradict several long-held precedents in election law — and regardless of whether they're successful, they could be used in future attempts to overturn close races. One such precedent is the notion that the rules of an election must be set before voting occurs, as Griffin is seeking to throw out thousands of ballots cast by voters who followed the letter of the law. Griffin's critics also note that only he is seeking to have the ballots thrown out, not any of the other Republican candidates who competed in statewide elections in November. 'Republicans are choosing to challenge voters who did nothing wrong,' North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said on a recent call with reporters. 'If they truly believe that there's been election malpractice, then why is every Republican not challenging the same election results that Jefferson Griffin is right now?' Meanwhile, more than 200 judges, government officials, attorneys and legal professors — including some Republicans — signed a letter to Griffin last month stating, 'The arguments you have advanced ask our judicial system to change the rules in place for the 2024 election after it has run its course.' 'If you succeed, tens of thousands of voters will lose their voice after they voted,' they wrote. 'For the sake of our judicial system, we ask you to terminate your litigation now.' In one of the latest filings from Griffin's legal team in federal court, his attorneys rejected the argument that he wanted to change 'the election rules after the election.' 'That's not what the courts said. They held that the 'plain language' of the state constitution barred voters who had never resided in North Carolina from voting in state elections,' Griffin's attorneys wrote. 'And the North Carolina Supreme Court found that the state election code required overseas voters to provide photo identification with their ballots. As part of its remedy, the court provided a 30-day cure period for those voters to fix the defect.' Griffin's critics acknowledge the value of legal remedies following an election, but argue that he should have challenged the rules long before the election if he was concerned about them. 'It's important to have an escape valve in the form of post-election [legal] challenges — if there are real mistakes, or if the law has been misapplied, or there is evidence of fraud,' said Webb, of Common Cause. But in this case, she said, Republicans are 'using the escape valve to bring a challenge against parts of the law that were there and available to be challenged any time over the past several years.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Long-running legal saga over N.C. Supreme Court race could pave way for future election challenges, critics warn
Nearly six months after the North Carolina Supreme Court election took place, the contest still hasn't been called and a winner still hasn't been certified. That's almost entirely due to a barrage of litigation from Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, who sued for more than 65,000 ballots to be thrown out after they had been cast, triggering a sprawling legal saga that is testing some of the most solid precedents of election law. The effort, if successful, could be more than enough to swing the results of the election, as Griffin currently trails Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs by roughly 700 votes. But even if the push ultimately falls short, Griffin's critics, who include members of both parties, say it could have long-lasting consequences and pave the way for more candidates to pursue challenges — no matter how legally questionable — to the results of elections decided by narrow margins. 'This is clearly an attempt to manipulate the law and the courts into changing an election result by changing the rules after the election has been held,' said Ann Webb, a policy director with the North Carolina chapter of Common Cause, a government watchdog group. Griffin's arguments, Webb said, 'require the courts to say, 'Yes, it's OK to ask us to change the rules after the election is done.' And that is where we really see something different and something scary, because there is nothing stopping other candidates from any party in the future from using that same strategy and pointing back to this case.' In an interview, Riggs called Griffin's legal approach 'insidious' and warned that it would likely be mimicked if it is successful. 'It's a North Carolina problem today, but it's a Michigan and Arizona and Georgia problem tomorrow,' she said, referencing other closely divided battleground states. Even some North Carolina Republicans have called for Griffin to throw in the towel. 'I wanted the Republican judge to win because his philosophy more aligns with me,' former GOP Gov. Pat McCrory told local news outlet ABC11 this week. 'He was defeated.' 'You abide by the rules before the election. It's like changing a penalty call after the Super Bowl is over. You don't do that,' McCrory said, adding that voters 'voted based upon the rule set.' In addition, Republican-led groups are running ads in the state calling for Griffin to end his litigation. A spokesperson for Griffin didn't respond to questions from NBC News for this story. In an email, North Carolina GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer accused Democrats of not being able to 'make an argument on the merits of Judge Griffin's case because they know following the law is not controversial.' 'If Democrats were being truthful, they'd simply admit they don't actually care about honest elections and are only interested in partisan outcomes,' Mercer added. The North Carolina GOP partnered with Griffin in his original litigation in the state court system. Months of litigation Riggs, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2023, emerged after Election Day last November narrowly ahead of Griffin, a state appeals court judge. A full machine recount as well as a partial hand recount of the race both showed Riggs leading Griffin by 734 votes out of 5.5 million ballots cast. Griffin subsequently filed legal challenges, backed by the North Carolina GOP, across the state, alleging that more than 65,000 people had voted illegally. The claims focused on three categories of voters: voters who Griffin's lawyers claimed didn't have driver's licenses or Social Security numbers on file in their voter registration records; overseas voters who haven't lived in North Carolina; and overseas voters who failed to provide photo identification with their ballots. A series of nuanced and complex court rulings have since followed from North Carolina state courts — including the Supreme Court, the bench that the winner of this election will join — and federal courts. (Griffin and Riggs have recused themselves from the matter when the issue came before the courts they serve on.) The latest development came Tuesday, when a federal appeals court temporarily blocked North Carolina election officials from moving forward with a period that would allow thousands of military and overseas voters to 'cure' their ballots after that had been ordered by the North Carolina Supreme Court. In that decision earlier this month, the state Supreme Court ruled that about 60,000 of the votes in question cannot be thrown out, but that others could be if minor errors were not fixed, meaning those voters would be required to prove their eligibility to election officials. Long-term ramifications Critics of Griffin's strategy say his arguments contradict several long-held precedents in election law — and regardless of whether they're successful, they could be used in future attempts to overturn close races. One such precedent is the notion that the rules of an election must be set before voting occurs, as Griffin is seeking to throw out thousands of ballots cast by voters who followed the letter of the law. Griffin's critics also note that only he is seeking to have the ballots thrown out, not any of the other Republican candidates who competed in statewide elections in November. 'Republicans are choosing to challenge voters who did nothing wrong,' North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said on a recent call with reporters. 'If they truly believe that there's been election malpractice, then why is every Republican not challenging the same election results that Jefferson Griffin is right now?' Meanwhile, more than 200 judges, government officials, attorneys and legal professors — including some Republicans — signed a letter to Griffin last month stating, 'The arguments you have advanced ask our judicial system to change the rules in place for the 2024 election after it has run its course.' 'If you succeed, tens of thousands of voters will lose their voice after they voted,' they wrote. 'For the sake of our judicial system, we ask you to terminate your litigation now.' In one of the latest filings from Griffin's legal team in federal court, his attorneys rejected the argument that he wanted to change 'the election rules after the election.' 'That's not what the courts said. They held that the 'plain language' of the state constitution barred voters who had never resided in North Carolina from voting in state elections,' Griffin's attorneys wrote. 'And the North Carolina Supreme Court found that the state election code required overseas voters to provide photo identification with their ballots. As part of its remedy, the court provided a 30-day cure period for those voters to fix the defect.' Griffin's critics acknowledge the value of legal remedies following an election, but argue that he should have challenged the rules long before the election if he was concerned about them. 'It's important to have an escape valve in the form of post-election [legal] challenges — if there are real mistakes, or if the law has been misapplied, or there is evidence of fraud,' said Webb, of Common Cause. But in this case, she said, Republicans are 'using the escape valve to bring a challenge against parts of the law that were there and available to be challenged any time over the past several years.'
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Tragic end in hunt for missing woman, 29, after local spotted 'Halloween decorations' behind her home
The hunt for a 29-year-old missing Illinois woman in North Carolina came to a tragic end after ' Halloween decorations' spotted by a local were identified as her remains. The body of Caitlin Hodges, who was reported missing on July 25, 2024, was found behind her home on December 10 in the Dollard Town Road area in Goldsboro. Shareka Smith, who had called to report the remains, told ABC 11: 'When I came and seen it I thought it was like Halloween decorations... '...but then I thought, "Oh my god, it's got to be a human head".' It was Smith's dog who alerted her to the remains just feet from her home. Hodges had last been seen on July 18 in Goldsboro where she had been visiting her boyfriend. Her remains were found 14 minutes from the house where she was staying with her boyfriend and his mom. On March 20, the sheriff's office was notified that the remains discovered were likely female but not believed to have been those of Hodges. However, on April 8, the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found that, following further analysis, the remains were in fact those of Hodges, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Caitlin's sister, Mandy Hodges, wrote on Facebook that their family is 'deeply saddened' by the news. 'This past month has brought my parents the pain of losing two daughters,' she wrote, referring to the loss of Jessica Hodges, who was found fed in Illinois in March. 'So many of you poured your time, effort, and resources into the search for Caitlin, and for that, we will always be thankful.' Jennifer Allio, Caitlin's cousin, told ABC 11: 'Caitlin is my baby cousin. She was born ten years after us. She always got a lot of love. She was very special.' A neighbor just houses down from where Hodges' remains were found told the outlet that the discovery was 'really devastating for a young girl.' An obituary for Caitlin described her as 'deeply loved' and that she would be remembered for her 'infectious laughter and her beautiful smile,' Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported. 'She loved to play guitar and had such a free spirit. She loved sunflowers and sea turtles. She loved to help others and truly was a tremendous soul full of love and light,' the obituary said. 'Caitlin loved to travel and made friends everywhere she went.' The investigation remains active as law enforcement and Hodges' family look for answers in Caitlin's death.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC homebuilder ordered to pay $250K or go to jail — how one couple's dream home became a violation-riddled nightmare
Jake and Anita Muehlbach have been stuck in homeowner hell since they first moved into their brand-new home in Chatham County, North Carolina in 2020. Despite passing every county inspection during construction, the Muehlbachs started noticing problems with the home soon after moving in. Jake told reporters he tried to work with the builder to get these issues resolved but that only made matters worse. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) He also notified the county of his concerns, and it was then that government officials uncovered at least 15 safety issues and code violations in the Muehlbachs' home. When they couldn't get their builder, Jeremy Lindley of Lindley Builders Inc., or his insurance to cover the issues with the home, the Muehlbachs took him to court. In March 2023, a judge ordered Lindley Builders to pay them $225,000 for breach of contract and warranty. But as of January, Lindley had yet to pay what the Muehlbachs say is now close to $250,000 due to interest. 'We're going on almost five years of dealing with this at this point. So we would just hope that this pressure from the court would maybe make him comply and pay this judgment so we can all just move on,' Muehlbach told ABC11. The code violations county official found spanned everything from failing to damp-proof the foundation; using ledger strips too wide for the nails that caused floor joist issues; and placing beams incorrectly, which created a hump throughout the house, to the undersized rafters causing the need for a new roof section and reframing. While a judge found in the Muehlbachs' favor in March 2023, they say the $225,000 they were awarded wouldn't nearly cover the estimated $400,000 required to correct everything. With numerous unknown problems, many won't try to repair the home and have instead recommended a full tear-down to rebuild. 'My engineer recommended destructive inspections, which means tearing out walls and floors to see what else is wrong … It's suspected we'll find more issues when that takes place,' Jake explained. Lindley's contractor's license was suspended, and the Muehlbachs have since taken him to court to obtain his company's financial records. When Lindley failed to present them, a contempt order was issued and he was directed to pay $14,700 in legal fees to the Muehlbachs or face jail time, which his lawyer told ABC11 he has done. However, the $225,000 judgment is still unpaid. The couple don't know what's next. 'We should have moved into this house and had equity,' Jake told ABC11. 'Now, we've spent our life savings between building the house and paying for this lawsuit. Now we have a home that's … not worth the land it's sitting on, still paying Chatham County taxes.' Read more: Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies The Muehlbachs' story highlights the importance of being proactive and taking extra care to protect what is likely to be the biggest investment in your life. Of course, this can cost more upfront, but the additional assurance and peace of mind can be well worth it. If you're planning to hire a building or construction company, be sure to do your research and understand your local building codes, required permits and zoning regulations. Plan ahead with extra funds for unexpected costs. It can also be prudent to: Hire an engineer during construction. They can inspect your home throughout its construction or renovation process, so you're more confident in the county or city inspection results. Create a log of every existing issue. Verbal communication with your contractor about problems is important, but written documentation — with photos for proof — is what holds up in court, should it ever come to that. Work with a construction lawyer. Get absolutely everything in writing. A lawyer specializing in construction can help ensure your contract is crystal clear and everything is properly documented. Review it in detail, including timeline, budget and exclusions. Is your savings account struggling to keep up with soaring grocery prices? Here's how 2 minutes can earn you 9X the US national average — with no monthly fees This self-made $500M real estate mogul reveals his 'essential' US portfolio that he says Amazon 'can't hurt' — here's how everyday investors can copy his secret formula These 5 money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2025 — and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
