Civil Rights Groups Prepare to Take Historic CSI v. Moore Voting Rights Case to the North Carolina Supreme Court

RALEIGH, NC — This morning, a panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued an order staying the CSI v. Moore Amended Preliminary Injunction (issued orally on August 23 with written order on August 27) by a three-judge panel of superior court judges. While the entire superior court panel unanimously denied an earlier request for a stay from the Legislative Defendants, today’s Court of Appeals order blocks more than 56,000 people in North Carolina, disproportionately African American, from accessing their fundamental right to vote on the eve of municipal elections.

Plaintiffs in the case, including Community Success Initiative, the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Justice Served NC, and Wash Away Unemployment, announced that they are immediately filing today for a temporary stay of the Court of Appeals order with the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In a joint statement today, the Plaintiffs explained: 

“This case is a matter of statewide and national significance, requiring immediate action from the state’s highest Court. Hundreds of North Carolinians are exercising a new right to vote in this state, encouraged and inspired by the three judge panel decision — we will not rest until their rights are fully vindicated. We have full faith that justice delayed today will not be justice denied for the plaintiffs, the North Carolina Second Chance Alliance, and the entire State of North Carolina. The collective will of the state is stifled when so many of our citizens are unjustifiably not able to participate in our democracy. That exclusion of our neighbors’ voices is morally and constitutionally wrong.”

The three-judge panel’s decision on August 27 made two things clear. First, “there is no denying the insidious, discriminatory history surrounding voter disenfranchisement … in North Carolina.” Second, “Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success based on their remaining claims that stood for trial, in addition to the likelihood of success on the merits of their claims as addressed in this Court’s September 4, 2020 preliminary injunction.” Read the full preliminary injunction order here.

###

About the N.C. NAACP

North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (“North Carolina NAACP”) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization composed of over 100 branches throughout the state of North Carolina. The fundamental mission of the North Carolina NAACP is the advancement and improvement of the political, civil, educational, social, and economic status of minority groups; the elimination of racial prejudice; the publicizing of adverse effects of racial discrimination; and the initiation of lawful action to secure the elimination of racial bias. www.naacpnc.org

About Forward Justice

Forward Justice is a nonpartisan law, policy and strategy center dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. South. Our work catalyzes success for social movements and expands opportunities for people affected by injustice. www.ForwardJustice.org

About Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit with an urgent mission: to prevent our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. www.protectdemocracy.org