Raleigh – On Monday a judge issued an injunction against the printing of ballots for November elections without an “R” next to Chris Anglin’s name for N.C. Supreme Court until two lawsuits by judicial candidates can be resolved.
The ruling impacts a law passed in the special legislative session last month, the injunction was issued as part of a lawsuit filed by North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin and Wake County District Court Judge Rebecca Edwards in opposition to a new law retroactively requiring that candidates be a member of the party listed on November ballot for 90 days, or have their name appear on the ballots with no party affiliation.
Anglin tweeted Monday afternoon, “I was able to get the injunction! With that, I will listed on the ballot as a Republican. I want to thank @johnburnsnc, Bo Caudill and Dave Bland for their excellent representation. I look forward to being able to focus on the campaign between now and election day. #ncpol”
Anglin’s lawyer is John Burns, a Raleigh Democrat and Wake County commissioner.
Republican lawmakers say Anglin, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican three weeks before filing, is trying to split the Republican vote between himself and Republican Supreme Court incumbent Barbara Jackson to benefit Democrat N.C. Supreme Court candidate Anita Earls.
Lawyers for Edwards and Anglin said that the law meant that the legislators were changing the rules mid-game.
Historically, judicial primaries candidate had to be registered with the listed party for ninety days but in October of 2017, Republicans cancelled the state’s 2018 judicial primaries letting candidates list their party on the November ballot without time requirements.
Judge Rebecca Holt said Monday that it was reasonable to think Edwards and Anglin would prevail in the lawsuits.
Last week, Anglin sent a letter to the N.C. State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement saying that if the court allows the law to go into effect, and his name goes on the ballot without a Republican designation, he will withdraw from the race.
The outcome of the case would have big implications on the N.C. Supreme Court where incumbent conservative Associate Justice Barbara Jackson is being challenged by Durham attorney and Democrat Anita Earls. Earls served as the executive director for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice before announcing her candidacy for the N.C. Supreme Court.
