
Editorial: North Carolina Supreme Court Justices Dodge Constitutional Duty
Days after educators descended upon Raleigh to advocate for public education funding, a prominent group of retired judges, justices, and education leaders is seeking to

Days after educators descended upon Raleigh to advocate for public education funding, a prominent group of retired judges, justices, and education leaders is seeking to

Since North Carolina’s maps are already severely gerrymandered in favor of Republicans, it’s looking unlikely that they will redraw the maps again. North Carolina has also already held its primary election, essentially sealing in the state’s current maps through 2026. If anything, the Callais decision just provided further legal cover for the already extreme gerrymandering that had taken place just 6 months prior.

When we invest in public schools, we invest in a more informed, capable, and engaged citizenry. That we don’t is an indictment of the world our leaders seem to want. We should invest in the long-term health of our economy and our democracy. The question is not whether we can afford to uphold the promise of Leandro. It is whether we are willing to.

The website compiles those connections and highlights nearly 40 elected officials who have been linked to West through party leadership roles, fundraising events, or campaign activity.

Republicans gained control of the NC General Assembly in 2010. In 2011, they passed SB 265, which would allow the state to charge retirees a premium for their healthcare. Retirees sued, and the case went back & forth in the courts until 2022.

The focus of the march is to hold state Republican lawmakers accountable for failing to fully invest in public education, as shown by the absence of a state budget and the dismissal of Leandro by the state’s highest court.

The decision drew sharp dissent. Justice Anita Earls argued that the court was failing to uphold constitutional protections, writing that it appeared “unable or unwilling to meaningfully check constitutional rights violations—particularly those originating from the legislature.”

It’s disgraceful for a Supreme Court candidate to cozy up to a convicted predator in order to further her own ambitions. And it’s a betrayal of public trust.

“Our kids deserve better. A surprise cut of nearly $50 million from rural schools, with virtually no notice and no allegation of misuse, is unlawful and harmful, the Department of Education approved these programs, allowed schools to build them, and now it’s trying to pull the rug out from under dozens of rural communities,” said AG Jeff Jackson.

This year, over thirty states will hold elections for Supreme Court seats. For North Carolina, the stakes are especially high for the upcoming judicial elections, as concerns around public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary are ever-growing.