From Democracy Docket <newsletters@democracydocket.com>
Subject North Carolina Supreme Court dismisses GOP candidate’s election challenge
Date January 23, 2025 11:07 PM
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Thursday, January 23

North Carolina Supreme Court dismisses GOP candidate’s election challenge

* Last night, the Supreme Court of North Carolina rejected ([link removed]) GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin's emergency petition — to throw out over 60,000 votes and overturn the state Supreme Court race — saying they'll wait for his lower court challenges to go through the normal process. The Court also decided to keep certification of the race blocked.
* The legal battle ([link removed]) over this election isn't over yet. This will play out in the lower courts of North Carolina as well as the federal courts. For now, Democratic Incumbent Justice Allison Riggs' victory has not been certified, and Griffin is still trying to toss out tens of thousands of ballots.

Nassau County, NY will have new legislature map with six minority districts
* Nassau County, New York settled ([link removed]) with voters to redraw local maps to boost the voting power of communities of color. This is the first lawsuit resolved under the New York Voting Rights Act (VRA), a state law replicating many protections of the federal VRA.

House GOP proposes amendment to prevent expansion of SCOTUS
* Congressional Republicans proposed ([link removed]) a constitutional amendment stating the U.S. Supreme Court can only have nine justices, which would prevent efforts to expand the court. In July, Democrats renewed ([link removed]) their push to add more justices after the Court issued its controversial ruling on presidential immunity.
* “Calls from the left to ‘pack the court’ are radical attempts to gain a political advantage,” Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) said. “The Supreme Court is an essential part of protecting our republic and keeping our government free and fair. I introduce this amendment each Congress to protect the integrity of the Court.”

Trump DOJ maintains Biden administration’s pro-voting stance in Georgia case

* During oral argument ([link removed]) in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) presented the same pro-voting argument in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit that former President Joe Biden’s DOJ did when it intervened ([link removed]) [link removed] the case back in 2023.

* When the DOJ changes administrations, there’s no guarantee they’ll maintain the same stances in cases. In this case, both justice departments defended the constitutionality of Section 2 of the VRA and argued that private litigants have the right to sue under that law.

THE OPPOSITION

Keeping Trump Accountable

Earlier this week, we launched a new content vertical dedicated to reporting on the Trump administration’s anti-democratic actions and the pro-democracy litigation fighting back. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage and send any tips to trumpaccountability@democracydocket.com (mailto:trumpaccountability@democracydocket.com?subject=&body=) .

Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship
* A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked ([link removed]) Trump’s executive order to severely restrict birthright citizenship, issuing a 14-day nationwide restraining order. The GOP-appointed judge described the order as “blatantly unconstitutional.”
* The Seattle case was filed by Democratic officials in four states. In total, 22 states, several civil rights groups and an expectant mother filed ([link removed]) six lawsuits to block the order.
* On the first day of his second term, Trump issued an executive order to revoke birthright citizenship for some people born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents. The problem? That's completely unconstitutional, Marc argues ([link removed]) in a new YouTube video.

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