Anglin asks N.C. Supreme Court to review lawsuit challenging ballot status

UPDATE: Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin responded to the N.C. Court of Appeals decision to deny an appeal from legislative leaders. “I’m grateful for the Court of Appeals swift decision re-affirming that my constitutional rights were harmed by the actions of the legislature,” Anglin said in a prepared statement. “We are 3-0 in this case. Perhaps now Senator Berger and Representative Moore will learn the lesson that even children understand, that it is wrong to change the rules in the middle of an election. They should do the right thing and stop wasting taxpayer’s money on any further frivolous appeals.”

Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin has asked the Supreme Court to consider emergency discretionary review of his lawsuit. Anglin says in court filings Friday, Aug. 24, without immediate intervention his right to appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot as a Republican will be trampled.

He also filed documents with the N.C. Court of Appeals asking it to reject a petition filed earlier in the day by lawyers for legislative defendants seeking a temporary stay to halt Wake County Superior Court Judge Becky Holt’s Aug. 13 ruling. Holt said he should be identified as a Republican on the fall election ballot. Defendants ask that no election ballots be printed until the merits of their appeal are decided.

Many questioned Anglin’s last-minute voter registration switch from Democrat to Republican on June 7, and filing to run for the Supreme Court June 29, the last day possible. Some speculated it was a covert plan for Democrats to split the GOP vote in the race to increase their 4-3 majority. Incumbent Republican Barbara Jackson and Democrat Anita Earls also are running.

Anglin denies the allegations.  

Monday, Anglin’s campaign said the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled in his favor in his pursuit to keep a Republican Party designation affixed to his name on the ballot.

John Burns, Anglin’s attorney, praised the appellate court’s decision to reject an appeal by Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.

“Today’s decision by the Court of Appeals leaves in place the injunction entered by Judge Holt. Her decision makes very clear that the General Assembly acted unconstitutionally by changing the rules of this election after the fact,” Burns said.