Context:

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in after a prolonged dispute over her election results, where Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin contested thousands of ballots. The State Board of Elections certified Riggs' victory with a 734-vote margin from over 5.5 million ballots, following a federal judge's ruling against Griffin, who chose not to appeal. Riggs' swearing-in, conducted by Justice Anita Earls, marked the conclusion of the last undecided Supreme Court race nationally in the 2024 general election. The legal contention centered around the validity of military and overseas ballots and those from non-residents, with federal court ruling in favor of Riggs to uphold these votes’ validity, citing due process rights. Riggs' victory is seen as a potential boost for Democrats aiming to regain control of the state's highest court by the end of the decade.

Dive Deeper:

• Allison Riggs was sworn into the North Carolina Supreme Court after prevailing in a lengthy legal battle against Jefferson Griffin, who contested the eligibility of thousands of ballots in the closely fought election.

• The State Board of Elections certified Riggs' win with a narrow 734-vote lead out of more than 5.5 million ballots, complying with a federal court order that rejected Griffin's claims, leading to his concession.

• Justice Anita Earls administered the oath to Riggs, marking the end of the last unresolved Supreme Court election in the United States for the 2024 cycle, highlighting the contentious nature of the race.

• The dispute focused on the eligibility of ballots from military and overseas voters and those deemed non-residents, with a federal judge ruling that invalidating these would violate voters' due process rights.

• Griffin's challenges, which were seen by many as an attempt to undermine a legitimate election, brought attention to procedural errors by the State Board of Elections but ultimately failed to overturn Riggs' victory.

• Riggs' eight-year term is viewed as a significant step for Democrats, who are hopeful about reclaiming control of North Carolina's Supreme Court by the end of the decade.

• Despite the resolution of this case, the state courts' decisions on the eligibility of certain ballots remain in effect for future elections, affecting military and overseas voters who lack ID information.