Riggs formally seated onto Supreme Court

During an investiture ceremony that was as awkward as it was celebratory, Chief Justice Paul Newby formally seated Allison Riggs to a full eight-year term.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs (center) is formally sworn in to an eight-year term on the state Supreme Court. Democratic Justice Anita Earls (top left) and Republican Chief Justice Paul Newby (top right) watch on with very different reactions. Screenshot from NC Courts livestream.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was formally seated on Wednesday to an eight-year term on North Carolina’s highest court.

The ceremony came exactly two months after four of Riggs’ colleagues ordered anywhere from several hundred to several thousand North Carolinians (predominantly in Riggs-friendly counties) to be removed from the count.

A livestream of the investiture ceremony showed an occasion that appeared as awkward as it was celebratory. An overjoyed Democratic Justice Anita Earls praised Riggs, while a seemingly unenthused Republican Chief Justice Paul Newby oversaw the event.