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Jefferson Griffin
2021 - Present
2029
4
Jefferson Griffin (Republican Party) is a judge for Seat 13 of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He assumed office on January 1, 2021. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Griffin (Republican Party) ran for election for judge of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Griffin was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He began serving in the United States Army in 2017.[1]
2024 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the November 5 general election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Incumbent Justice Allison Riggs (D) defeated Jefferson Griffin (R) in the partisan general election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
On May 7, 2025, Griffin conceded the election, ending all recounts and legal challenges to the outcome.[2] To read a detailed timeline of events surrounding post-election lawsuits and recounts, click here.
The Raleigh News & Observer's Kyle Ingram wrote the race "lack[s] much of the public vitriol or big personalities present in races higher on the ballot — but the stakes are high."[3]
At the time of election, the court had a 5-2 Republican majority. Heading into the 2020 election, Democrats held a 6-1 majority on the court. They lost 2 seats, reducing their majority on the court to 4-3. In 2022, Republicans won two seats, changing the balance of the court to a 5-2 Republican majority. In 2024, the court could have remained a 5-2 Republican majority or could have turned into a 6-1 Republican majority. To read more about past court elections, click here.
Both parties saw this race as crucial for control of the court. Riggs said, "The supreme court isn't flipping control in this election. I am employing a plan, working with Justice Anita Earls and many others to help win back our courts in the 2028 election. Still, we're going to have to defend my seat in 2024. Justice Earls’ seat in 2026 before we can do that."[4] North Carolina GOP Judicial Victory Fund Chair Susan Mills highlighted the importance of winning this seat, saying, "Having the majority this cycle doesn't guarantee we will keep it in the future."[3] The Charlotte Observer's Paige Masten wrote, "If Democrats lose in November, they technically still have a chance of flipping the court in 2028. But that will be significantly harder."[5]
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed Riggs to replace Justice Michael R. Morgan (D) in 2023.[6] She said her "record demonstrates without question my commitment to our constitution and the protections it provides for the people of this state."[7] She said that she "value[s] reproductive freedoms. I value democracy and know that it doesn’t defend itself without people on the bench being willing to enforce the Constitution."[3] Riggs described Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's judicial method as an influence and said that she has "been intentional in applying this in my own judicial work. By focusing on process, rather than 'brand,' I believe I am best complying with my constitutional duty to rule without fear or favor."[8] Riggs was a former appellate justice and civil rights attorney.
Griffin campaigned on his experience and said, "I’ve been able to show the people of North Carolina that I’m a constitutional conservative, that I believe in the rule of law."[9] Griffin said that he is "more of an originalist than anything...My interpretation of it is, I’m gonna look at this legal document...as of the time it was written."[3] He said that he admires "Clarence Thomas’s judicial philosophy. He’s always consistent."[9] Griffin believed that North Carolina voters "want judges who interpret the law and aren’t activists, who don’t go up there with any agenda...I’m there to do my job, I have no policy agenda — I’m there to interpret the law."[3] Griffin served on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
According to the most recent fundraising data before the election, Riggs had raised $1.1 million and spent $456,619, and Griffin raised $1.2 million and spent $198,521. To read more about campaign finance data, click here
North Carolina was one of 33 states that held state supreme court elections in 2024 and one of seven that held partisan supreme court elections. To read more about which states that held supreme court elections in 2024, click here.
Elections
2024
See also: North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2024
General election
General election for North Carolina Supreme Court
Incumbent Allison Riggs defeated Jefferson Griffin in the general election for North Carolina Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Allison Riggs (D) | 50.0 | 2,770,412 |
 | Jefferson Griffin (R) | 50.0 | 2,769,678 | |
| Total votes: 5,540,090 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court
Incumbent Allison Riggs defeated Lora Cubbage in the Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Allison Riggs | 69.1 | 450,268 |
 | Lora Cubbage | 30.9 | 201,336 | |
| Total votes: 651,604 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jefferson Griffin advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Supreme Court.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Griffin in this election.
2020
See also: North Carolina intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
General election
General election for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 13
Jefferson Griffin defeated incumbent Chris Brook in the general election for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 13 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jefferson Griffin (R) | 51.2 | 2,720,503 |
 | Chris Brook (D) | 48.8 | 2,597,573 | |
| Total votes: 5,318,076 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Chris Brook advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 13.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Jefferson Griffin advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 13.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 2
Toby Hampson defeated Jefferson Griffin and Sandra Ray in the general election for North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Toby Hampson (D) | 48.8 | 1,766,470 |
| Jefferson Griffin (R) | 35.7 | 1,293,098 | |
 | Sandra Ray (R) | 15.5 | 561,015 | |
| Total votes: 3,620,583 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
North Carolina held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016.[10] Incumbent Jefferson Griffin ran unopposed in the North Carolina Judicial District 10 general election for the Griffin seat.[11]
| North Carolina Judicial District 10 (Griffin Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jefferson Griffin Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 289,897 |
| Total Votes | 289,897 | |
| Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Unofficial election results," accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The North Carolina District Courts utilize partisan elections in the selection of judges. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving. From 2002 through 2016, elections for district court judges were nonpartisan; however, on March 23, 2017, the North Carolina legislature changed the method of election to partisan elections by overriding Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of HB 100. This change was effective with the 2018 district court elections.[12][13][14]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[12]
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- a district resident; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement at 72 is mandatory).
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jefferson Griffin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Jefferson Griffin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Griffin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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District Court Judge, Wake County, NC (2015 to present) Captain, North Carolina Army National National Guard, Judge Advocate 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (currently deployed) Attorney, NC Industrial Commission (2015) Prosecutor, Wake County District Attorney's Office (2010 to 2015) Raleigh Kiwanis Club Board of Directors Wake County Bar Association Board of Directors Attorney in private practice (2008-2010) NCCU School of Law, JD (2008) UNC Chapel Hill, BA (2003) Member of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, NC USCG licensed captain
Outdoorsman- Committed to the rule of law.
- Continue to fight for impartiality in our courts.
- Improve access to justice.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate North Carolina Supreme Court |
Officeholder North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 13 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 18, 2020
- ↑ WCNC, "Jefferson Griffin concedes North Carolina Supreme Court race," May 7, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Raleigh News & Observer, "‘The power levers in our state’ run through its courts. Your choices for NC’s next justice," accessed September 14, 2024
- ↑ The Daily Tar Heel, "Q&A: Allison Riggs speaks about civil rights experience, keeping seat on N.C. Supreme Court," accessed September 15, 2024
- ↑ Charlotte Observer, "Democrats are changing their strategy for 2024’s must-win NC Supreme Court race | Opinion," accessed September 15, 2024
- ↑ North Carolina Governor's Website, "Governor Cooper Announces Two Judicial Appointments," accessed September 15, 2024
- ↑ Rocky Mount Telegram, "Appointed justice seeks election to NC Supreme Court seat," accessed September 14, 2024
- ↑ The Raleigh News & Observer, "Candidate for NC Supreme Court, Democrat Allison Riggs, answers our questions," accessed September 15, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 North State Journal, "Jefferson Griffin looks to join Republican majority on NC Supreme Court ," accessed September 15, 2024
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Election Calendar," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Carolina," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ The News & Observer, "Veto override means voters will know judges’ party affiliations," March 23, 2017
- ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, "House Bill 100," accessed May 5, 2017
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Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina
State courts:
Supreme Court of North Carolina • North Carolina Court of Appeals • North Carolina Superior Courts • North Carolina District Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Carolina • North Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Carolina
