Riggs seeks hearing from full Court of Appeals, recusal of judge who supported Griffin's legal fund

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs on Tuesday requested that a 10-3 conservative-majority state Court of Appeals review Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin's election protests.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs wants a full Court of Appeals hearing, with two GOP judges removed from considering Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin’s election protests.

In filings on Tuesday, Riggs pushed for a 10-3 conservative-majority Court of Appeals to review the ongoing dispute, rather than a three-judge panel assembled by Republican Chief Judge Chris Dillon.

Griffin has already reportedly recused himself from the matter. Riggs now wants GOP Judge Tom Murry, who donated $5,000 last year in support of Griffin’s legal defense fund, to recuse himself as well.

The Court of Appeals Clerk’s Office hadn’t received any formal recusal order paperwork from any of the judges, as of Wednesday morning.

Griffin opposes Riggs’ requests for an initial hearing en banc and for Murry’s recusal. The North Carolina State Board of Elections supports the en banc request and has no position on the recusal request.