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Fair Representation
On Thursday Republicans in the NCGA announced they were petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state courts’ intervention in the process of drawing North Carolina’s congressional district map, arguing once more that the NC Supreme Court’s rejection of the state legislator-drawn map violated the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court already declined to weigh in on the map before the midterm elections, but they could take up the case in the fall, and any decision stemming from the case could have long-lasting impacts on the redistricting process in North Carolina and other states.
Economic and Housing Policy
On March 10 the NC House passed a resolution urging Congress to provide state pension plans with a legal pathway to recover Russian assets. The resolution, which was requested by State Treasurer Dale Folwell, has no legal effect, but rather represents a symbolic effort to encourage Congress to change an existing law. At least 19 other states have proposed or passed similar resolutions through legislation or executive order, but North Carolina’s is unique in not directly requiring divestment of the state’s pension funds.
LGBTQ Rights
On March 11 the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling about domestic violence protection orders, affirming that such orders must apply in same-sex dating cases. The high court’s vote on the ruling was 4-3, with all three registered Republicans dissenting. Previously North Carolina had been the only state in the country that did not allow domestic violence protection orders for people in same-sex relationships who weren’t currently or formerly married or cohabitating.
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