Courts and justice
Ervin weighs in on recusal, redistricting, and public financing
In a one-sentence order with no underlying rationale, the state Supreme Court yesterday denied a request by groups and individuals suing to overturn the 2011 redistricting plans that Justice Paul Newby recuse himself from that case. That decision came as a disappointment to the plaintiffs, who nonetheless remain confident that they’ll prevail on their challenge […]
Statesville Blues: Are Cross and Shield Restraining Competition?
If you live or work in North Carolina, chances are Blue Cross Blue Shield NC is your health insurer. And chances also are that, as you’ve watched your premiums continue to rise, you’ve found few if any other insurers who can give you a better deal. There aren’t many. According to the American Medical Association, […]
Amendment One and Done?
In May, North Carolina voters easily approved an amendment banning same-sex marriage, but the fate of that amendment may now rest on decisions coming down from the nation’s highest court as early as next week. On Friday, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will take a look at several same-sex marriage cases pending for […]
Groups call on Newby to recuse himself in redistricting dispute
In papers filed today, the North Carolina NAACP and other state groups and individuals suing to overturn redistricting plans approved by the legislature in 2010 asked Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby to remove himself from the case, saying that the millions of dollars kicked in to support his reelection by conservatives with an interest in […]
With GOP gains, Voter ID on the fast track in NC
The voting booths were barely closed when members of the state’s newly-empowered Republican supermajority announced that they would move quickly to reverse course on bills vetoed by Gov. Beverly Perdue — including a proposed voter ID bill. But with the next round of elections two years away and a potentially seismic shift in the U.S. […]
Doubling down on redistricting
A million dollars and counting. That’s how much the Republican State Leadership Committee has funneled into the state Supreme Court election so far, hoping to secure Justice Paul Newby’s seat there and ensure Republican control of the General Assembly for years. The committee – which has been pulling in millions these past few months in […]
High Stakes at the High Court
The viability of the video sweepstakes industry in North Carolina was front and center before the state Supreme Court yesterday, as the justices heard argument in two separate cases challenging the constitutionality of the state’s 2010 ban of video sweepstakes machines. That law prohibits the use of computers to conduct sweepstakes by means of an […]