Allison Riggs officially sworn in as NC Supreme Court Justice
SESSION THAT DAMAGE. SHE'LL
HAVE MORE IN JUST A BIT.
>> THE UNDECIDED RACE FOR THE
STATE SUPREME COURT SEAT HAS
OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END.
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
CERTIFYING INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT
ALLISON RIGGS, HIS VICTORY
TODAY. THIS FOLLOWING NEARLY
HALF A YEAR OF COURT CHALLENGES
WRAL'S CARLY HAYNES. JOINING US
NOW LIVE IN RALEIGH, CARLY.
>> YOU WERE THERE FOR HER
SWEARING-IN.
>> AND RIGS WILL BE MAKING HER
WAY BACK TO THIS BUILDING.
THE JUSTICE BUILDING ONCE
AGAIN, THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE
THIS MORNING IN THE STATE
CAPITOL CONDUCTED BY THE
BENCHES ONLY OTHER SITTING
DEMOCRAT.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> THE ELECTION OUTCOME FOR
THE STATE SUPREME COURT SEAT
OFFICIALLY STANCE. INCUMBENT
ALLISON RIGGS WILL RETURN TO
THE BENCH.
>> I AM SO PROUD TO STAND HERE
TODAY BEFORE YOU SWORN IN ONCE
AGAIN AS YOUR SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE, A CEREMONIAL END TO
THE NATION'S LAST UNDECIDED
STATEWIDE ELECTION. IT FOLLOWS
6 MONTHS OF LEGAL BATTLES
THROUGH THE COURTS. REPUBLICAN
OPPONENT, JEFFERSON GRIFFIN
CHALLENGED RESULTS AFTER
FALLING SHORT BY UNDER 800
VOTES. HE ARGUED THOUSANDS OF
VOTES SHOULDN'T COUNT BASED ON
NEW INTERPRETATIONS OF STATE
LAW VOTER SHOULD NOT.
>> HAVE TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL
TO HAVE THEIR LAWFUL VOTES
COUNTED. JUST LAST WEEK, A
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERED THE STATE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO CERTIFY
THE OUTCOME. GRIFFIN CONCEDED
WRITING, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF NORTH CAROLINA AND WHILE I
DO NOT FULLY AGREE, I RESPECT
THE COURT'S HOLDING A
CERTIFICATION TODAY AND A
PLEDGE FOR THE FUTURE. AND MY
PROMISE TO YOU.
>> IS THAT I WILL SERVE ALL
NORTH CAROLINIANS REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR ME.
>> AND RIGS WILL NOW SERVE OUT
IN 8 YEAR TERM. MEANWHILE,
GRIFFIN WILL REMAIN ON THE
COURT OF APPEALS. 3 REACHED OUT
TO HIM ASKING FOR A STATEMENT
TODAY AND WE DID NOT HEAR BACK.