Court Challenge Struck Down:
U.S. District Court Judge Earl Britt dismissed all the remaining challenges to North Carolina’s judicial public financing program today. The lawsuit was filed by NC Right to Life PAC and others, challenging the constitutionality of the program back in 2005. This, combined with other previous rulings, means that challenges to the program’s source of funds (check-off and $50 attorney surcharge), its rescue funds provision, and the program as a whole have all been dismissed.
This is an important victory for the advancement for publicly financed elections in this state and the rest of the country.
Legislative Update:
The campaign public financing bills on the Senate side (SB1205 and SB1261) will now be going to the Senate Select Committee on Government and Elections Reform , which is co-chaired by Sen. Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) and Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg).