Legislative Defendants News Today

Gov. Roy Cooper's lawsuit against a new North Carolina state elections board will move to a three-judge panel.

Two lawsuits challenging North Carolina’s new statewide election maps are likely to head to trial in June 2025. The three-judge panel overseeing the cases released that information Wednesday.

Top Republican state lawmakers have asked a federal judge to pause a third lawsuit challenging 2023 changes to North Carolina’s state election law. The judge already has placed two related lawsuits on hold this month. Unlike the other two cases, plaintiffs from the left-of-center activist group Democracy North Carolina have not agreed to stay the proceedings in their case.

A three-judge panel overseeing former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr’s “fair elections” lawsuit has delayed a hearing in the case until June 13. The delay stems at least in part from the recent death of longtime Republican redistricting lawyer Thomas Farr.

The three-judge panel overseeing two federal redistricting lawsuits in North Carolina will hold its first hearing in the cases on May 28. The suits challenge the state’s congressional and legislative election maps.

The recent death of longtime Republican redistricting lawyer Thomas Farr could help lead to a delay for a hearing planned next month in a “fair elections” lawsuit. Farr’s colleagues have asked for a delay in the hearing now set for May 22.

A trial in a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s new state Senate election map will not take place before the November general election. The earliest possible trial date is Dec. 2, based on proposals submitted in federal court this week. A hearing is scheduled in May in a separate lawsuit in state court calling for "fair elections."

A bipartisan three-judge panel has ruled in favor of Gov. Roy Cooper in his legal fight with legislative leaders over a new state elections board. The decision means the current five-member elections board with a 3-2 Democratic majority will remain in place.

A three-judge panel overseeing Gov. Roy Cooper’s lawsuit against proposed changes to North Carolina’s state elections board could issue a decision by March 8. The panel predicted a decision “by the end of next week” after holding a 75-minute hearing Wednesday.

Plaintiffs in two federal lawsuits challenging North Carolina’s new statewide election maps oppose state lawmakers’ request to have the cases consolidated. Paperwork filed Thursday outlines the plaintiffs’ objections.