A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that North Carolina's disputed race for a seat on the state Supreme Court must be reviewed in state courts before the matter can go before a federal tribunal.

In the push and pull over whether a Republican judge’s request to throw out more than 60,000 votes in his election contest should be considered in state or federal court, a panel of federal judges said Tuesday that the case will stay in state court for now.

CHARLOTTE — The Federal Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the fight over North Carolina’s Supreme Court race will remain in state court. The North Carolina Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin lost to the incumbent democrat candidate Allison Riggs by 734 votes after two statewide recounts.

In a win for Judge Jefferson Griffin, his challenge to North Carolina Supreme Court seat race will remain in state court, with a federal court retaining jurisdiction of several federal issues, should they remain after state court proceedings are resolved.

Three counts found an incumbent Democrat won a State Supreme Court race. But the Republican candidate is trying to nullify more than 60,000 votes.

Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs leads Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin by 734 votes for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In a win for Republicans seeking to overturn the 2024 election results of a race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, a federal appeals court has given the case back to state courts. Democratic inumbent Justice Allison Riggs received 734 votes more than Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin in the November election.