The North Carolina Supreme Court raised concerns Thursday about a lawsuit targeting lawyers who helped file election protests after the state’s 2016 governor’s race. One justice described the plaintiffs as asking the court to “blow up” protections provided to people engaged in those protests.
Nine days after denying state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls’ initial request for an injunction against the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, a federal judge has denied Earls’ second request for an injunction. US District Judge William Osteen issued his latest order Thursday afternoon. He denied Earls’ request to block a commission investigation into Earls’ published comments while she appeals to the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
The North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission continues to oppose an injunction blocking its investigation into published comments from state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls. Meanwhile, a court filing Thursday suggests Earls might consent to an interview with commission staff next Monday.
State Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls is asking a federal judge to issue an injunction against the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission as she pursues an appeal in her First Amendment lawsuit. Without an injunction, the commission could decide next week whether to move forward with a formal investigation of Earls’ comments about Supreme Court operations.
