The newly formed statewide coalition is made up of voting rights advocates, community leaders, voters, and progressive groups who are highlighting “the corruption of the Newby-Berger court”, according to the group’s press release.
Attorney General Jackson called BRIC “a lifeline for our towns and cities trying to make sure every resident has clean and reliable water to drink, a functioning sewage system, and measures in place to prevent the next storm from devastating their communities.”
The plaintiffs argue that the maps were designed in a way that Black voters in counties such as Guilford, Forsyth, and Mecklenburg were drawn into districts where the vast majority of voters were white rural residents who do not share their political views, thus diluting the Black voters’ voice in elections. They are looking for the courts to rule that the maps are unconstitutional.
“People deserve the peace of mind that their genetic information – some of the most personal data they have – is protected,” said Jackson. “I’m pleased that this data will not go to another for-profit company and that we were able to do more to protect people’s data from being used without their consent.”
The lawsuits claim that lines are so skewed for GOP candidates that many Black voters cannot elect their preferred candidates, violating the Voting Rights Act. They allege the mapmakers at times submerged or spread out Black voting blocs, which historically have favored Democrats, into surrounding districts with White majorities — benefiting Republicans.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson has secured a win for North Carolinians frustrated with nonstop spam calls. In response to a lawsuit filed by North Carolina and 7 other states, a court barred John Spiller, owner of several telemarketing agencies, from operating in the telecommunications industry. The court also ordered the prominent robocaller to pay more than $600,000 to offset the costs of the lawsuit to impacted states.
Stein called the legislation a “threat to democracy,” suing to block both sections of the bill. Both suits are pending in state courts, but in the meantime, the North Carolina State Board of Elections is under new Republican leadership.
Although the lengthy court battle is over, many experts and voting rights experts have warned that the Griffin case has potentially set a precedent that will impact future elections.
Griffin’s concession comes after a federal judge ordered North Carolina election officials to confirm the victory of Justice Allison Riggs on the state Supreme Court. U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, appointed to the bench by Trump, ruled that all of the ballots challenged by Judge Jefferson Griffin must count and ordered the State Board of Elections to certify the results that Allison Riggs won.
“I am standing here today as your Supreme Court justice, but also as a daughter, a sister, and a proud North Carolinian who is committed to standing up for our service members and their families, just like they stand up for us,” Justice Riggs told supporters last Monday.