Three Republican members of the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued the April order that blocked a lower court ruling favoring Democratic Gov. Josh Stein in a dispute over state elections board appointments.
Appeals Court rules blocked release of the names of participating judges for 90 days. Now the court has revealed that Judges Julee Flood, Michael Stading, and Tom Murry issued the April 30 order.
All three are Republicans. Republicans outnumber Democrats, 12-3, on the state’s second-highest court.
The Appeals Court’s action paved the way for State Auditor Dave Boliek to make new appointments to state and county elections boards. The state Supreme Court later split, 5-2, in upholding appellate judges’ decision.
Boliek is a Republican. His appointments shifted elections board majorities from 3-2 in Democrats’ favor to 3-2 Republican majorities. Among the state board’s first actions was to replace executive director Karen Brinson Bell with Sam Hayes.
The legal dispute remains with the state Appeals Court.
The state Supreme Court decision split justices along party lines. The five Republicans made up the majority. The two Democrats dissented….