Democratic Ballot: NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 6 - Allison Riggs & Lora Christine Cubbage

Join us as we spotlight the 2024 Primary Election showdown for the NC Supreme Court Associate Justice, Seat 6, and I'll take you behind the bench to reveal the profound stories and legal acumen of Democratic contenders Justice Allison Riggs and Judge Laura Christine Cubbage. Discover how Riggs' tenure at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and her recent appointment by Governor Roy Cooper underline her commitment to equal justice. We'll peer into her campaign's backbone, examining her endorsements and the principles that steer her pursuit for a full term on the high court.

Transitioning from the courtroom to the community, we delve into Judge Cubbage's extraordinary evolution from a letter mail carrier and master barber to a venerated legal mind, fiercely advocating for judicial fairness. Her roles as an assistant district attorney and assistant attorney general punctuate a career marked by compassion and a relentless drive for justice in District and Superior Courts. The episode spotlights her current bid for the bench, dissecting the motivations and impact of her candidacy. Tune in for an enlightening journey through the lives and careers of these judicial candidates, each vying to shape the legal destiny of North Carolina. Don't just cast a vote; cast an informed one!

Allison Riggs & Lora Christine Cubbage

NC Deep Dive’s Voters’ Guide for the 2024 Primary Election

Ballotpedia

WRAL’s Voters’ Guide

Raleigh News & Observer Voters’ Guide

INDY Week’s Candidate Questionnaire

Campaign Finance Reports for All Candidate Committees

Voter Information
--Register to Vote
--Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation)
--Election Information
 --Election Day Voting FAQs
--Absentee by Mail FAQs

Closest Early Voting Locations
February 15th-March 2nd

W.E. Hunt Recreation Center in Holly Springs

Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve

2024 Primary Election Early Voting Bus Route Guide

 ELECTION DAY
 Tuesday, March 5th from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Transcript

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 0:11

Hello friends, thanks for joining me and the NC Deep Dive. I am your host, Amanda Benbow Lunn, and we are delving into the 2024 primary election. Each episode will cover a different race that will be on your primary ballot this election. When you go to vote, you will be handed a ballot based on your address and party affiliation. If you are unaffiliated sometimes also referred here as independent then you will have your choice of which party's ballot you would like to vote. Please note that you are only able to cast one ballot and that there are no primary ballots for the Green Party or the no Labels Party. Moreover, candidates for the general election in November who do not have a primary challenger will not appear on your primary ballot. They get a pass directly to the general election. Due to time constraints and the plethora of candidates, and my belief that having as much information as possible is of vast importance, our primary election segment will consist of me covering one race at a time, as time allows, and going over each candidate's website and what I can find on a simple Google search, in case it is easier for you to take in information this way. If you are short on time, you can check out our NC Deep Dives Voters Guide for the 2024 primary election, found pinned to our Facebook page or on this episode's show notes at www. ncdeepdive. com. It will be an easy way to access each candidate's website and research the candidates on your own. If that's a better use of your time. Without further ado, my friends, let's dive in For this race. We are going to be talking about the North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice, seat 6. On the Democratic primary ballot, the two candidates are Allison Riggs and Laura Christine Cubbage. We are going to start first with Justice Riggs. Looking at her website, it says Meet Justice Allison Riggs. It has been a tremendous honor to serve on the North Carolina Supreme Court since my appointment by Governor Roy Cooper in September of 2023. I'm excited about the opportunity to run for November 2024 for a full term on the court.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 2:27

I've spent my entire career fighting for equal justice under the law for every person, regardless of wealth or skin color. Prior to my appointment to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and then to the North Carolina Supreme Court, I served as the co-executive director for programs and chief counsel for voting rights at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham, north Carolina. For the 14 years I was there, I had the privilege of advocating for those who had been marginalized and disenfranchised. Arguing before the US Supreme Court in several landmark redistricting cases, my passion for justice led me to become a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, where I am building bridges to deliver on that promise of equal justice under the law. I'm proud to approach all the cases that have and will come before me with thoughtfulness, compassion and a commitment to the rule of law in areas ranging from criminal law to family law to business law. As a justice, my guiding principles are integrity, transparency, consistency and empathy. Justice for all means that the doors to the courthouse are not arbitrarily slam shut, and I take seriously my role in making our judicial system accessible and understood. I earned my bachelor's degree, master's degree and jurors' doctor all at the University of Florida. Since then, I have devoted myself to serving the community and my profession through associations ranging from the North Carolina Bar Association and to the American Constitution Society. If elected to a full term, I will continue to work hard to ensure that the Supreme Court delivers justice to all North Carolinians without fear or favor.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 4:04

She does have an Instagram, facebook and Twitter or ex-account. Her endorsement she's been endorsed by Governor Roy Cooper, the NC State AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, the Progressive Caucus. She's been endorsed by the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People PAC, the Young Democrats of North Carolina, the People's Alliance, the Carolina Federation PAC, the no-transcript County Voter Education Coalition and she's been endorsed by Replacements Limited PAC for promoting progressive candidates in North Carolina. She has a tab for her opinions, some of the court cases that she has been party to. According to one website that I saw, it discusses some of her opinions as associate justice, including one that reversed a lower court's opinion to deny suppressing evidence that was collected by police during a traffic stop and that she also ruled in favor of a news outlet, wbtv in Charlotte, over city council when she ruled that certain records that the city held were subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. But there are eight cases that she lists here so you can read her opinions if you'd like, and that is basically the end of her website.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 5:22

Doing a Google search didn't bring up anything outrageous that I think would be cause for concern. She is listed on ballotpedia so that's be a LLOT P-E-D-I-A dot org. You can search her name, alison Riggs, there. And for campaign finance for the 2024 election, starting January of last year. Through December 31st of this year, her total contributions have been $369,329. She has 1,088 unique contributors to her campaign. Her expenditures have totaled $59,375, and she's had 72 unique payees. She has not completed the candidate connection survey on ballotpedia but she did take part in the NC Deep Dive Voters Guide so you can read a little more about her there. I do believe something came up for the Raleigh News and Observer their Voters Guide as well for Justice Riggs.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 6:24

Next up is Laura Christine Cubbage. Her website is cubbage4ncsupremecom, just in case I didn't mention Alison's, hers is Riggs R-I-G-G-S forourcourtscom and that's F-O-R spelled out. So Riggs for our courtscom and Laura's again is Cubbage for the number four NC Supremecom. So that's Cubbage, the number four NC Supremecom, and it starts with meet Judge Laura Cubbage ensuring your rights. For 17 years, judge Laura Christine Cubbage spent many hours behind a barber chair getting to know about the cares and concerns of the citizens of Greensboro, north Carolina. It was there that she realized she had a higher calling to serve and a space that would allow her to affect societal change and impact top policymakers and leaders. Laura has since served North Carolina as an Assistant District Attorney, assistant Attorney General, district Court Judge and as a Superior Court Judge. It lists an endorsement by Mayor Mitch Colvin of Fayetteville, north Carolina, and it looks like she has a Facebook, linkedin, instagram and it looks like she has a Facebook linked in Instagram and YouTube account that you can find as well. More about Laura Meet Judge Cubbage. Superior Court Judge.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 7:50

Post high school, laura embarked on a diverse career, from a city letter mail carrier to roles in manufacturing plants in her hometown. A pivotal move to Greensboro, north Carolina, unfolded a new chapter as she embraced the identity of a master barber. For 17 years, laura's barber shop became a sanctuary for candid conversations about the poignant issues of judicial inequality, shaping her perspective on the profound impact of the justice system on everyday lives. Motivated by these heartfelt conversations, laura courageously stepped out from behind the barbers chair. As a single mother, she pursued higher education, earning an undergraduate degree in sociology from North Carolina agricultural and technical state university. Her journey continued to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate. This transformation from a barber to a legal scholar was fueled by a burning desire to address the profound concerns of inequality entrenched in the justice system. With her law license in hand, laura became the assistant district attorney for Guilford County from 2006 to 2011. Her pursuit of justice went beyond incarceration, as she actively contributed to developing alternative programs for litigants, a testament to her compassionate approach to accountability. As an assistant attorney general, she delved into criminal appeals and workers' compensation cases, further honing her understanding of the complexities of the legal landscape. In 2016, laura's journey reached a milestone as she was elected as District Court Judge, followed by a triumphant 2018 campaign for Superior Court Judge for Judicial District 18A of the North Carolina Fourth Superior Court Division.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 9:28

Judge Cubbage's tenure on the bench, marked by an oath of office on January 1, 2017, reflects eight years of unwavering service to the state. Her judicial philosophy, rooted in administering justice with mercy, stems not only from legal expertise but from her own life's tapestry. Laura's candidacy for the North Carolina Supreme Court is imbued with a profound understanding of the law's governing cases, especially in civil rights and voting rights. Her unique experience presiding over cases in both direct and superior courts positions her as a judge who comprehensively understands the impact and precedent of every decision. Yet, beyond the courtrooms and legal chambers, laura Cubbage is a pillar in the community, actively engaged in various organizations, including the Greensboro Bar Association, nc Bar Association, delta, sigma, beta Sorority and the Lynx Incorporated. She is not just a candidate but a community advocate, serving on boards like the Board of Visitors for North Carolina A&T State University, piedmont Capital Funding and Family Services of the Piedmont.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 10:33

Laura's commitment extends far beyond the confines of her judicial rule as the March 5, 2024 primary election approaches. Judge Cabbage's campaign for the NC Supreme Court is not merely about legal expertise. It's a passionate call for change, a change that bridges the gap of mistrust between the judiciary and the public, addresses concerns of racial equity and advocates for much-needed criminal justice reform. And there is a video there as well. And then there are links to volunteer, register to vote and to donate. Coming up Laura on ballotpedia it does list her campaign finance information, so for this 2024 election, she has a total of $96,569 in contributions. The number of unique contributors is 54. Her expenditures have totaled $11,492 and she's had 33 unique payees.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 11:32

She did not fill out the 2024 ballotpedia survey responses. There is something that she wrote in 2016 that was pulled from her campaign website. At that time, laura did participate in our NC Deep Dive Voters Guide, so you can check the show notes for that, and I did not see anything in Indie Week in their Voters Guide for this race at all. Again, this was on the Democratic primary for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice seat six between Alison Riggs and Laura Christine Khabbage. On another, when I was searching Google, I did see a site that said that Laura currently works as a Superior Court Judge, a position she was appointed to by Governor Roy Cooper in 2018, and that she's been endorsed by the African American Caucus of North Carolina and the Guilford County Simkins PAC. I did not see either of those on her website, though, so I cannot fully confirm either of those. And again, this is for the Democratic ballot for the NC Supreme Court Associate Justice seat six between Alison Riggs and Laura Christine Khabbage.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 12:45

Democracy is the foundation of all we hold dear. We are better as a community, state and nation when we all take part in our civic duty by being informed and casting our vote. The candidates in offices on your ballot can have a major impact on our everyday lives and can have real consequences. They create and enforce our laws, invest in our future well-being, fund all the things like our schools and roads, ensure we have safe drinking water and food to put on our tables and advocate on behalf of those they represent, hopefully keeping in mind both the little and the big picture of it all.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 13:24

Early voting is now going on and will continue through Saturday, march 2nd. Our closest early voting locations will be the WE Hunt Center in Holly Springs and the hilltop Needmore Town Park and Preserve in Fuquay Varina. The main primary election will be held on Tuesday, march 5th. If you vote that day, it's best for you to go to your designated polling place or else some of the races you are eligible to vote for may not show up on the ballot they have available to give you During early voting. Each area in Wake County has all the possible ballots for Wake County Election day. They will only have the ballot that corresponds directly to that particular precinct. Please remember you now need to bring your photo ID. If you happen to forget or have had some extraordinary circumstance happen, you will have a few different options provided to you, but it will be best and easiest and most efficient to bring it with you. If, for some reason, you haven't registered to vote yet, you may register and vote at the same time during early voting at any one of the sites. March 2nd will be the last day to register to vote for this primary election, and that brings this episode of the NC Deep Dive to a close.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 14:35

Make sure you check out all the other relevant episodes for the 2024 primary election at www. ncdeepdive. com, apple Podcasts, spotify, audible or wherever you currently listen to your podcasts. I will be including helpful links for each candidate and voting in general on our website's show notes, including our NC Deep Dives Voters Guide for the 2024 primary election. We were blessed to have many candidates take the time to share their thoughts and speak to voters within Southern Wake County. The Voters Guide is arranged by party affiliation and organized in such a way to make it relatively easy to find the races or candidates you might be interested in. All candidates' websites are linked. If I was able to find one, I also consciously chose to arrange the Voters Guide starting at the end of the ballot.

Amanda Benbow Lunn: 15:24

So often we are aware of the larger races, yet don't hear much about, or take the time to learn about the smaller races. As always, if you have any questions, concerns or topics you'd like to share, you may contact us via social media or our email at ncdeepdive@gmail. com. Thank you for engaging with this episode and becoming a more informed citizen. Democracy is a team sport. Together we make democracy work and our communities a better place to work, play and live. Your vote matters, your voice matters, you matter. Until next time, my friends Namaste, the love and light in me sees and honors the love and light in you.