### Abortion Rights Central to North Carolina Supreme Court Race Amid National Judicial Battles

In North Carolina, the battle over abortion and reproductive rights is taking center stage in the high-stakes race for a seat on the state Supreme Court. This race, crucial to the future of abortion legislation in the state, finds itself increasingly highlighted by Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat running for reelection against Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin.

Registered Republicans currently hold five of the seven seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court. An extension of this majority could pave the way for more stringent abortion laws. In her campaign, Justice Riggs has underscored her commitment to reproductive rights, with her first television advertisement featuring Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican gubernatorial candidate known for advocating for earlier abortion restrictions than the current 12-week limit.

"This is an issue that is landing in front of state Supreme Courts, and it is one that is very salient to voters now," Riggs emphasized in a recent interview. However, her opponent, Judge Griffin, has criticized Riggs for putting too much emphasis on a topic that could potentially be adjudicated by the court, calling it a breach of judicial standards and code of conduct.

This race epitomizes a broader national trend, where abortion is becoming a pivotal issue in expensive campaigns for state Supreme Courts. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn constitutional protections for abortion has brought newfound attention to these courts, which now face decisions on key issues like reproductive rights, voting rights, and redistricting.

Douglas Keith, senior counsel in the judiciary program at the Brennan Center, remarked, "What Dobbs did was made clear to both political stakeholders and the public that these state courts that hadn't got a lot of attention are actually going to be really important."

This year, 33 states are holding elections for 82 Supreme Court seats amidst record-breaking spending for judicial races. The American Civil Liberties Union has funneled $5.4 million into races in Montana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio. Similarly, Planned Parenthood and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee have collectively pledged $5 million for court races across Arizona, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

Katie Rodihan, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Votes, noted, "We have never invested this heavily in state Supreme Courts before... This is really a groundbreaking move for us."

The results in these judicial races could have far-reaching implications. For instance, in Ohio, where Republicans maintain a slim 4-3 majority, upcoming elections could sway the balance of power significantly. Control of the court could become critical if the state chooses to appeal a recent ruling that struck down a law banning most abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

Similarly, in Michigan, two seats on the Supreme Court are at stake, with Democratic-backed justices holding a narrow 4-3 majority. Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the first Black woman on Michigan's bench, and Republican-backed circuit court Judge Patrick O'Grady, along with Republican state Rep. Andrew Fink and law professor Kimberly Anne Thomas, are among the candidates.

Montana also faces heated battles for two Supreme Court seats, with former U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerry Lynch running against county attorney Cory Swanson for chief justice, and state judge Katherine Bidegaray squaring off against state judge Dan Wilson for another open seat. These races come in light of GOP legislators' criticism over rulings that struck down laws limiting abortion access and voting rights.

As the nation watches these judicial contests unfold, the importance of state Supreme Courts in shaping the future of reproductive and other rights has never been more pronounced.