North Carolina

N.C. high court mulls throwing out rulings on redistricting, voter ID

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2023

N.C. high court mulls throwing out rulings on redistricting, voter ID

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North Carolina’s highest court docket, now managed by Republicans following the November midterms, on Tuesday weighed reversing a three-month-old resolution aimed toward making certain election maps are drawn pretty.

The court docket has not but reached a choice and provided no clues on when it will. Forward of Tuesday’s arguments, critics excoriated the justices for reexamining the redistricting case and a voter ID resolution so quickly after ruling on them, contending the justices have been doing so for partisan causes as an alternative of authorized ones.

In December, when Democrats managed the court docket, a 4-3 majority issued selections that went in opposition to Republicans on redistricting and threw out the voter ID legislation. Republicans took over the court docket in January and shortly after introduced they might rehear each circumstances. Arguments within the redistricting case have been heard Tuesday and arguments within the voter ID case will probably be held Wednesday.

North Carolina’s redistricting case is concurrently earlier than the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, and what the North Carolina justices do will implicate how the nation’s excessive court docket handles the matter. Earlier than the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, North Carolina’s GOP legislative leaders have argued legislatures have expansive powers with regards to redistricting and state courts don’t have any authority to deal with gerrymandering circumstances.

If the U.S. Supreme Courtroom adopted that concept, lawmakers in all states would have free rein to attract legislative and congressional districts to maximise partisan benefit. Now that the North Carolina court docket is reconsidering the case, it’s not clear how the U.S. Supreme Courtroom will deal with it. The U.S. Supreme Courtroom this month requested for a brand new spherical of briefs and will decide the arguments earlier than it are actually moot.

Throughout Tuesday’s arguments in Raleigh, N.C., the court docket’s two Democrats pressed the legal professional for GOP lawmakers on whether or not state courts might have any say on redistricting. They famous the state structure ensures free elections.

“Are you saying that as a result of ‘honest’ doesn’t seem within the structure that elections don’t should be honest, that it’s all proper to have predetermined outcomes primarily based on the place the legislature decides to attract the traces?” requested Justice Micheal Morgan, a Democrat.

Phillip Strach, the legal professional for the GOP lawmakers, mentioned the state’s elections are honest however argued the state Supreme Courtroom didn’t have the facility to think about whether or not districts have been drawn for political achieve.

“Simply because it’s not honest doesn’t imply that this physique or any physique, any political physique, has the authority to take care of that query. Generally it’s obtained to be left as much as the folks,” Strach mentioned.

That reply was unpersuasive to Justice Anita Earls, a Democrat.

“How can it’s left as much as the folks? If the maps don’t pretty replicate the voting energy of the folks of the state, aren’t you basically searching for to stop folks from exercising management over their very own authorities?” she requested.

Strach responded: “With respect, that’s round in our opinion. You’re assuming that you would be able to outline what honest is.”

The Republican justices grilled the attorneys who challenged the GOP maps, with Chief Justice Paul Newby questioning whether or not courts must assessment the make-up of native governments in city areas with giant Democratic majorities.

“Once we take a look at this, ought to there be any metropolis councils, county commissioners, county commissions, college boards — ought to any of those be made up of just one occasion? And wouldn’t it’s suspect if any of them are made up of just one occasion, significantly when you take a look at the combination votes within the county the place that may be 45 to 47 %?” he requested.

Lali Madduri, an legal professional for Democratic voters, mentioned the state structure doesn’t require proportional illustration however reasonably ensures voters have an equal capability to translate their votes into political energy.

States should draw new legislative and congressional maps each 10 years to ensure districts have equal populations. After the 2020 census, Republicans who management North Carolina’s legislature drew maps to their benefit and shortly after a bunch of Democratic voters and others sued.

The state Supreme Courtroom in February 2022 dominated that state courts had the authority to throw out maps which are overly partisan. The ruling was 4-3, with Democrats within the majority.

In December, the identical majority struck down state Senate maps and authorized congressional maps that had been established by a panel of three judges. These congressional maps had been in place for the November election and resulted in seven Democrats and 7 Republicans getting elected. The congressional maps that Republican lawmakers wished would have given Republicans a bonus in 10 of the state’s 14 districts.

Additionally in December, in a separate case, the court docket in a 4-3 ruling struck down a 2018 voter ID legislation as a result of it discovered the legislature handed it to disenfranchise Black voters.

The make-up of the state Supreme Courtroom modified in January, when the winners of the November court docket elections have been seated. Justices in North Carolina run with partisan affiliations and Republicans gained a 5-2 benefit on the court docket.

Forward of Tuesday’s arguments, a crowd gathered exterior the court docket to rally in opposition to the choice to revisit the circumstances.

“Dishonest is normally accomplished behind our backs. They’re making an attempt to do that in entrance of our face. They’re making an attempt to tug the controller out of the sport as a result of they’re shedding,” Marcus Bass, the deputy director of North Carolina Black Advance, advised the group.

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North Carolina

Key Ole Miss Transfer Target Thaddeus Dixon Chooses North Carolina Over Rebels

Published

5 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Key Ole Miss Transfer Target Thaddeus Dixon Chooses North Carolina Over Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels have made strong moves in the transfer portal this offseason, but the program missed out on a key contributor on Saturday when cornerback Thaddeus Dixon pledged to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Ole Miss was in the race late for Dixon, but a deciding factor in his decision to join the Tar Heels may have boiled down to Carolina’s hiring of former Washington assistant Armond Hawkins as defensive backs coach. Dixon is a transfer from the Washington Huskies, so familiarity in his new home likely played a role.

BREAKING: Washinton transfer CB Thaddeus Dixon has committed to North Carolina, @Hayesfawcett3 reports🐏https://t.co/pcXs7hjbOS pic.twitter.com/6g5D02NC7V
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) January 18, 2025

READ MORE: Will Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons Continue Playing Baseball in 2025?

So, where do the Rebels go from here? Ole Miss has already gained some key pieces in its secondary out of the transfer portal (including CB Jaylon Braxton of Arkansas), but Lane Kiffin’s team will probably still be seeking some help in the defensive backfield as the transfer portal continues to move.

According to On3’s current transfer portal class rankings, Ole Miss has the third-best haul in the country, behind Texas Tech and Missouri. The Rebels have seen 23 players transfer into the program so far this offseason, and that number could continue to grow between now and kickoff of the 2025 season.

Ole Miss opens its 2025 campaign on Aug. 30 at home against Georgia State.

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The Pete Golding Effect: How Ole Miss Football Will Reload Defensively in 2025

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North Carolina

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

Published

12 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

In a postseason recruitment that was raw and revealing at times, where decorated cornerback Thaddeus Dixon suggested in social media postings that University of Washington football fans wanted him to come back more than the coaches, apparently received all the assurances he needed at North Carolina.

On Saturday, the senior defensive back from Long Beach, California, told On3 he would join the Tar Heels for his final season of college football, adding to a growing list of one-time UW players and coaches headed to Chapel Hill.

So far, the departing group includes linebacker Khmori House, safety Peyton Waters, wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr., defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and defensive analyst Armond Hawkins, all moving from Montlake to the ACC.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Dixon would have given the Huskies three highly accredited corners, joining fellow UW starter Ephesians Prysock and Arizona transfer Tacario Davis, to fill out a secondary that could have had few equals this coming season, and still might.

BREAKING: Washington star transfer CB Thaddeus Dixon has Committed to North Carolina, he tells @on3sports
The 6’1 195 CB totaled 69 Tackles, 16 PD, 1 FF, & 2 INT in 2 seasons with the Huskies
Ranked as a Top 10 Player in the Portal (No. 2 CB) per On3https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/bePHJU7wP7
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 18, 2025

Dixon reportedly took recruiting visits to Mississippi and North Carolina, and fielded overtures from Michigan, before settling on the Tar Heels.

The disconnect for Dixon appeared to show up when the Huskies landed a portal commitment from the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Davis, a second-team All-Big 12 pick this past season, presumably to take his vacated spot.

The 6-foot-4, 193-pound Prysock and Davis teamed together at Arizona in 2023, with both earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention accolades.

Dixon originally was supposed to run out of college eligibility when the season ended, hence the Huskies went looking for cornerback help, but the NCAA gave the veteran an extra year when it changed the rules governing players with junior-college backgrounds. He came to the UW from Long Beach Community College.

One of the Huskies’ top individual success stories this past season, Dixon went from a back-up player in 2023 to unseat returning starter Elijah Jackson, who opened all 15 games for the national runner-up team.

Thaddeus Dixon soaks up the moment after an Apple Cup interception. / Skylar Lin Visuals

Moving into the lineup, Dixon started 12 of 13 games and received All-Big Ten honorable-mention honors for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff. He had a team-best 10 pass break-ups, an Apple Cup interception and several textbook tackles in the open field. He’s easily made himself into an NFL prospect.

With three accomplished cornerbacks, the Huskies could have picked two starters and put the odd man out at nickelback.

Dixon clearly wasn’t going to go that route at the UW, likely figuring his past performance should have provided him with more cornerback guarantees.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, go to si.com/college/washington

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North Carolina

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Published

20 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Bill Belichick’s girlfriend on Thursday seemingly shut down any talk of her boyfriend leaving the North Carolina Tar Heels football program for a job in the NFL.

Jordon Hudson responded to rumors that suggested Belichick had one foot out the door when it came to his Tar Heels gig. Belichick had been rumored to be interest in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, but the head coaching job wasn’t open until he had already committed to North Carolina. CBS Sports reported that Belichick didn’t sign his contract with the school.

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Oct. 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey: Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

She posted a photo on her Instagram showing the two posing with a football and Belichick dressed in Carolina blue.

“Pictured: two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball,” she wrote as the caption.

Michael Lombardi, who is the general manager of the North Carolina football program, also threw cold water on the rumors of Belichick jumping back to the pros.

EX-NFL COACH JON GRUDEN RIPS STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

Dec. 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC: Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of Bill Belichick, in attendance at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

“Bill is recruiting in DC today, and Baltimore tomorrow. His focus is on North Carolina football, hiring staff members and developing the team. The NFL isnt a option so please stop making it one. Thank you,” he wrote on X in response to the CBS Sports report.

“The reception towards UNC and Coach Belichick has been amazing from every school we visit. We are going to fight to keep North Carolina players here and bring the best to Chapel Hill,” he added.

Belichick was hired as the Tar Heels’ coach in December. He called the job a “dream come true.”

Bill Belichick fields questions from media

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said in his introductory press conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true.”

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