Signed by North Carolina jurists and senior state government officials, bar leaders, legal educators, and practicing attorneys from across the political spectrum, the letter to Griffin warns that his ongoing attempt to invalidate 66,000 lawful ballots is “a threat to the public’s faith in our judicial system”

RALEIGH, NC – Today a group of more than 200 North Carolina jurists and senior state government officials, bar leaders, legal educators, and practicing attorneys from across North Carolina issued a powerful joint letter to losing NC Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin. The letter’s message: it’s time for Griffin to drop his lawsuit to overturn the 2024 election for a seat on the NC Supreme Court.

The letter comes as the NC Court of Appeals later this week will hear arguments in Griffin’s case after the Wake County Superior Court last month denied Griffin’s demand that the lawful ballots of more than 66,000 North Carolinians be tossed out. Griffin seeks to reverse the election outcome four months after votes were cast and counted – and even after multiple recounts confirmed he lost.

“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. Indeed, if you succeed, tens of thousands of voters will lose their voice after they voted,” the letter states. “For the sake of our judicial system, we ask you to terminate your litigation now.”

The letter signers include former NC Supreme Court Chief Justices Jim Exum and Henry Frye and former NC Supreme Court Associate Justices J. Phil Carlton and Willis Whichard, along with former NC Court of Appeals Judges Gerald Arnold, Linda McGee, Wanda Bryant, Jack L. Cozort, Martha A. Geer, Reuben F. Young, Linda Stephens, and Ralph A. Walker.

Also signing are former Superior Court Judges Donald W. Stephens and Gregory A. Weeks, along with former District Court Judges M. Patricia DeVine, Jane P. Gray, Ann McKown, and Marcia H. Morey, and current District Court Judge Christine Underwood.

Joining the former justices and judges are dozens of attorneys across the state, totaling 226 signers in all.

The letter signers are from a wide variety of political and legal backgrounds. But they all agree that Griffin’s “continuing effort to overturn the vote in the election for the Supreme Court has become a threat to the public’s faith in our judicial system.”

The letter to Griffin reads:

“As members of North Carolina’s legal community, we urge you to concede your loss in the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, bringing the nation’s last uncertified contest in the 2024 election to a close.

The undersigned attorneys include members of the North Carolina bar who cover the political spectrum from conservative to progressive. We practice various types of law. Several of us were honored to serve on the appellate and trial courts of our state. We ran for office to serve there. We hold in common the view that your continuing effort to overturn the vote in the election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court has become a threat to the public’s faith in our judicial system.

Our state has extensive experience with close elections and we have procedures to ensure that the count is accurate. Those processes played out here, at your request, including two recounts.

Although we elect jurists in our state under a partisan banner, we must guard the people’s confidence that the jurists we elect apply the law without partisan preference.

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. Indeed, if you succeed, tens of thousands of voters will lose their voice after they voted.

For the sake of our judicial system, we ask you to terminate your litigation now.”

See the full list of letter signers here.

“Members of the judiciary have a special responsibility to safeguard the integrity of our courts and to protect public confidence in our justice system,” said Jim Exum, former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court. “Judge Griffin is asking our appellate courts to determine their own membership, a decision in which the judges and justices have strong personal and professional interests. No court should be asked to make that kind of decision because it will be difficult if not impossible for the court to achieve the impartiality we expect, however the court decides the case.”

“We must ensure that the people of North Carolina can rely on the fairness and impartiality of our courts,” said Linda Stephens, former Judge on the NC Court of Appeals. “Judge Griffin’s demand that the courts throw out the votes of more than 66,000 North Carolinians is a serious threat to the public’s faith in our judicial system.”

“Our state has reliable procedures in place to ensure that the vote count is accurate. Those procedures were faithfully followed and confirmed that Jefferson Griffin lost the election,” said Marshall Hurley, former General Counsel for the NC Republican Party. “It’s time for Judge Griffin to concede and allow our state to move forward.”

“The people of North Carolina have spoken, and it’s time for Judge Griffin to accept the results,” said Bob Stephens, former General Counsel to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory. “His concession now would go a long way to restoring the public’s faith and confidence in our judiciary.”

Media contact: Bryan Warner – bwarner@commoncause.org