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Berger Jr. refers Cooper’s recusal requests to full NC Supreme Court

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. has asked his colleagues to decide whether he should take part in two cases pitting the state’s Democratic governor against top Republican legislators. One of those legislators is Berger’s father, the state Senate leader. In two orders released Monday, Berger Jr. referred decisions about his participation in the cases to the other six members of North Carolina’s highest court.

CJ Staff
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Legislative leaders oppose Cooper’s request for Berger Jr. recusal

Top North Carolina legislative leaders reject Gov. Roy Cooper’s request that state Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. stay away from two cases pitting the governor against the legislature. The governor cites the role Berger’s father plays in both cases as state Senate leader.

CJ Staff
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Cooper seeks Berger’s recusal, urges top NC court to avoid elections, appointments cases

Gov. Roy Cooper is asking the North Carolina Supreme Court to steer clear of two cases pitting the governor against top legislative leaders. At the same time, Cooper seeks Justice Phil Berger Jr.’s recusal “or disqualification” from both cases.

CJ Staff
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Riggs to sit out 2016 election defamation case

State Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs will not take part in an upcoming defamation case stemming from the 2016 governor’s election. Riggs revealed Monday that she had recused herself from the case before defendants filed a motion requesting her recusal last week. The case Bouvier v. Porter is scheduled for oral arguments on April 11.

CJ Staff

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Defendants seek Riggs’ recusal from 2016 election defamation case

Defendants in a North Carolina Supreme Court defamation case stemming from the 2016 election are seeking Justice Allison Riggs’ recusal. A court document filed Friday points to Riggs’ ties to plaintiffs in the case. Oral arguments in Bouvier v. Porter are scheduled for April 11.

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State’s highest court wrestles again with Leandro education funding issues

The North Carolina Supreme Court could decide in the coming months whether to strike the most recent decisions about court-ordered education funding in the 30-year legal battle commonly known as Leandro. All seven justices spent 80 minutes Thursday morning listening to and questioning lawyers who defended and opposed an April 2023 trial court order calling for $677 million in additional state funding.

CJ Staff
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State Supreme Court splits, 4-2, on Berger’s participation in Leandro case

The state Supreme Court split, 4-2, Friday on allowing Justice Phil Berger Jr. to take part in next week’s hearing in the 30-year-long education funding dispute commonly known as Leandro. That means all seven justices will take part in oral arguments on Feb. 22.

CJ Staff
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Berger submits Leandro recusal request to full Supreme Court

State Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. is submitting a recusal request in the education funding case known as Leandro to the full court. In an order issued Monday, Berger declined to act on the matter himself, “erring on the side of prudence.” The state's highest court will hear oral arguments in the case on Feb. 22.

CJ Staff
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Earls rejects recusal request in Leandro education funding case

State Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls will not recuse herself from the court’s upcoming hearing in the long-running education funding case commonly known as Leandro. Earls, a Democrat, signed a 13-page order Wednesday rejecting Republican legislative leaders’ request that she step away from the case.

CJ Staff