The North Carolina Supreme Court might soon get to decide who should win the election for one of its own seats, potentially giving the court’s Republican majority a chance to expand the party’s control over the judiciary.

The lawsuit had been in federal court, where judges at multiple levels have already rejected the legal theory behind the lawsuit seeking to change the results of 2024’s state Supreme Court election. But on Monday a federal judge sent it back down to the state Supreme Court.

In the 2024 elections, incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs appeared to have held off Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, with multiple recounts confirming the initial results that showed her winning by slightly more than 700 votes — a sliver of the more than 5 million votes cast in the race. But state elections officials haven’t made the victory official yet, due to a series of challenges launched by Griffin’s campaign and the North Carolina Republican Party. Griffin and the state GOP are seeking to throw out the ballots of more than 60,000 North Carolinians who voted last year, largely over registration concerns.

The complaint primarily revolves around people for whom a driver’s license number or Social Security number isn’t listed in a state database, with Republicans raising questions of whether state officials can verify that those voters are who they say they are. Democrats say the argument is moot because, in order to vote last year, North Carolina voters had to show a photo identification card, such as a driver’s license. If they lacked ID at the polls, they had to provide their Social Security number. Anyone who didn’t never had their vote counted in the first place.

Republicans tried using the argument before and during the 2024 elections in an attempt to block affected people from being allowed to vote. Those legal theories were rejected by the State Board of Elections, by a federal district court judge and also by a federal appellate court. So the voters in question were allowed to cast ballots.

Now Griffin says their ballots should be thrown out after the fact, predicting in court filings that doing so could propel him to victory and expand Republicans’ majority on the Supreme Court from a 5-2 to a 6-1 advantage.

State vs. federal court

Griffin’s post-election efforts were rejected by the State Board of Elections in a series of votes, with the election board’s Democratic majority voting that his claims were baseless and Republican members siding with Griffin.

Griffin, who remains a judge on the Court of Appeals while the case is pending, lodged five types of complaints, which also included a smaller number of overseas voters he doesn’t think should’ve been allowed to vote. One of the complaints was rejected unanimously, the others were rejected on 3-2 party-line votes.

State law says Griffin should’ve then appealed the election board’s decision in Wake County by taking the case to trial. He skipped that process and went straight to the Republican-led Supreme Court, seeking a ruling in his favor. Riggs’ campaign said that’s because Griffin has no evidence and would be exposed at trial. Griffin said it’s because he wants to speed things along since the election is already two months in the past.

In one of the previous cases ruled on during the election, federal Judge Richard Myers shot down the Republican Party’s efforts to stop the voters in question from voting. His ruling was later upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which further added that the legal arguments involved could only be heard in federal court, not state court.

The State Board of Elections moved Griffin’s post-election lawsuit into federal court, citing that precedent. The case went back to Myers, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump, who on Monday ruled that it shouldn’t be heard in federal court and that the North Carolina Supreme Court should decide.

The State Board of Elections could still appeal that decision. So, too, could Riggs, who has since intervened in the lawsuit. If the case ends up being heard in state court, however, Riggs won’t be able to defend her election results. She has already recused herself from taking part in any potential case over her election.

Spokespeople for Riggs and the elections board each said Monday they were still reviewing the order and had no immediate comment.

Political ramifications

A loss by Riggs would make it more difficult, though not impossible, for Democrats to flip back control of the Supreme Court before 2030 when there will be a new U.S. Census, followed by a new round of political redistricting.

In 2022, a Democratic majority on the court ruled that Republican lawmakers’ 2020 redistricting plans were unconstitutionally gerrymandered. But Republicans took control of the court in 2023 and immediately moved to undo that ruling and allow GOP lawmakers to gerrymander for political gain. They ruled state courts aren’t allowed to rule on partisan gerrymandering cases.

That 2023 ruling allowed Republicans to flip three of North Carolina’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2024 elections — in which Republicans won a 220-215 majority in the U.S. House. If those three seats hadn’t flipped, Democrats would control the U.S. House by a 218-217 margin instead.

With the Addition of AVCON, AVI Systems Further Establishes Its Presence and Ability to Serve Customers throughout the Southeast United States

MINNEAPOLIS & RALEIGH, N.C., January 06, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AVI Systems today announced it will acquire Cary, N.C.-based AVCON, a systems integration firm that designs, installs and maintains audio, visual and lighting technologies for companies, houses of worship and other organizations. The acquisition includes transitioning all AVCON employees to AVI Systems and will close on Jan. 15, 2025.

“AVCON’s founder, Frank Yarborough, has built an incredible company with a stellar reputation for audiovisual design and support,” said Jeff Stoebner, CEO of AVI Systems. “The alignment between AVI and AVCON is quite remarkable in that both organizations strive to be a trusted advisor to each customer we serve. I look forward to having Frank and his team become employee-owners at AVI Systems and help us continue our growth trajectory.”

AVCON got its start in 1997 when Yarborough created the business with his vision to be the best audiovisual systems integrator in the Southeast. He focused on building a team of experts who share in a commitment to understand each customer’s goals, vision and environment – and to guarantee a successful outcome with each engagement.

“What’s made AVCON great is our individual relationships with our customers – from the sales team to the expert installers who represent us on site,” said Yarborough. “That’s why I’m so excited about joining AVI Systems. Our two entities strive to always do what’s best for the customer, and that’s a market-leading differentiator.”

Since 2022, AVI has established itself in several new markets in the Eastern United States including Massachusetts, New York, Washington, D.C., and most recently Tennessee and Florida. When the acquisition of AVCON is finalized, AVI will maintain the office location to serve customers in North and South Carolina as well as Southern Virginia. AVI Systems will have 1,300 professionals across 41 U.S. locations. The company also serves as the Regional Business Unit in the United States for GPA – which enables AVI to serve large, multi-national organizations that have operations around the world.

ABOUT AVI SYSTEMS

AVI Systems helps organizations create more human impact through the design, deployment and support of audiovisual and unified collaboration systems. With 40 locations in the United States and the ability to do business nearly anywhere in the world, we work with thousands of organizations who value the power of visual communications and strive to enable people and teams to communicate and collaborate. The solutions we create accelerate decision making, improve human interactions and create immersive digital experiences. For more information about AVI Systems, visit www.avisystems.com.

Story Continues

We all know that what truly makes a house a home are the people inside it. However, we’d venture to say that a close second are the things inside it. The thread-bare quilt that you can’t bear to part with, the bedroom set you picked with your spouse right after getting married, and the ancient end tables that have been in your family for generations. If you get sentimental about heirloom pieces and have a penchant for interior design, then it’s high time you took a trip to High Point, North Carolina.

The Home Furnishing Capital of World is best known for being home to more than 100 furniture stores and outlets, but in recent years the small city has been making waves for much more than just dining tables and armoires. From new art galleries to hip dining halls, breweries, and a soon-to-come Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, there’s plenty to see and do on a weekend trip to this Piedmont Triad town. Here are the best things to do on a visit to High Point, North Carolina.

Browse Furniture Stores in High Point

High Point’s reputation as a furniture and home furnishings destination dates to the 17^th century when an abundance of timber from forests in the area and easy transport along the Southern Railway made the town an ideal spot. The Southern Furniture Market made its debut in 1909. Today the massive trade show, now known as High Point Market, is the largest furniture trade fair in the world. While the market brings in more than 75,000 people each year, it’s exclusive to retail buyers and licensed interior designers, so unless you work in the industry, you won’t be able to snag a ticket.

For the casual furniture enthusiast or at-home designer, High Point still has plenty of places to get your shop on. There are more than 100 furnishings stores that specialize in everything from lighting to fabrics to antiques. A few shops not to miss are Ashley Interiors by Braxton Culler for an expansive selection of wicker and rattan pieces; Capa Imports, known for its gorgeous rugs and pillows; and High Point Furniture Sales (plus their separate Clearance Center) for a huge high-quality selection of furniture from more than 150 manufacturers, all at bargain prices. And of course you can’t leave High Point without paying a visit to Furnitureland South, the world’s largest furniture store. There are more than 1 million square feet inside the store (not counting its separate outlet building), so you may want to set aside more than just an entire afternoon to peruse.

Best Attractions and Activities in High Point

Enjoy Arts & Outdoor Activities

Outside of its obvious furniture-related attractions, there’s plenty more to explore in High Point. If you’re traveling with a family, head to the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum or High Point City Lake Park, where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards, ride a miniature train, play mini golf, and even take a scenic lake tour on a pontoon boat.

Head Downtown

While High Point has plenty of history to its name, it’s also become an incubator for new growth and energy. Congdon Yards, a mixed-used development in the heart of downtown High Point, is the best place to see it all. When you go, be sure to stop into its new art gallery and grab a cup of java at Lil’s Coffee Bar. Be sure to check the events calendar at fellow multifunctional space COHAB Space for live music performances and pop-up dinners. Don’t leave without visiting its gallery space and retailers like Design Build Found, too.

Take a Tour

Other must-do activities include a walk around High Point University’s gorgeous campus and stop on Hamilton Street to get your picture in front of the world’s largest chest of drawers. The popular roadside attraction and town landmark was built in 1926 and remodeled in 1996. Standing 38 feet tall and featuring two giant neon socks hanging out of one of the drawers, it’s truly a sight to behold. And if you want a little more background on High Point’s homey history, stop into the High Point Museum.

Best Restaurants in High Point

Grab Breakfast, Lunch, and Bites

Dining is no afterthought in High Point. Breakfast is best at local favorite The Biscuit Factory. The biscuit sandwiches are giant, providing enough fuel for a full day of activity. For lunch, grab no-frills barbecue and burgers at Sweet Old Bill’s. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, try the homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches at Alexandria’s Bistro 1605. If you and your travel companions can’t settle on one cuisine, Stock & Grain is your spot. The food hall features a number of local merchants selling everything from sushi to pizza to hot dogs to classic soul food to mini doughnuts.

Make Dinner Reservations

Early evening is the ideal time to snag a table on Magnolia Blue’s rooftop patio. On the menu you’ll find classic American and Southern dishes like Prime Rib, Pot Roast, and Bourbon Chicken. Other worthy dinner spots include Lulu & Blue, specializing in Italian dishes and homemade pasta, and Southern Roots, a farm-to-table restaurant focused on local and regional produce.

Enjoy Drinks With Friends

For a happy hour drink or post-dinner nightcap, head to Brown Truck Brewery for craft beer in a relaxed environment, or check out newcomer Nomad Wine Works. Founded by industry veterans David Armstrong and Aaron Sizemore, Nomad features fermented beverages including still and sparkling wines, meads, and ciders in a modern tasting room.

Best Places to Stay in High Point

Since High Point is such a hotspot for design, it only makes sense to enjoy your stay in a beautifully designed room. The best place to get that is at Pandora’s Manor, an expertly curated boutique hotel, where each of the six rooms is designed in a different style by a prominent interior designer. We’re utterly in love with the Madcap Cottage room. Another great option is the J.H. Adams Inn, a Trademark Collection by Wyndham property that’s housed in a 1918 mansion on the National Registry of Historic Places. The hotel features a mix of modernly designed guest rooms, as well as two historic guest rooms that are original to the historic inn.

Read the original article on Southern Living