The Importance of State Courts: A Discussion with Justice Anita Earls

CJJ members have been invited to this community event by Pro Choice NC. This event is not hosted by CJJ.

Register at this link for a discussion with NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls about what it means to guarantee equal justice under the law and how that relates to reproductive rights.

As we continue to grapple with the impacts SB20 is bringing to our state’s landscape of abortion access, advocates and providers are working tirelessly to help patients navigate new hurdles to abortion care. As advocates, we are also planning for the future and what we need to do to restore and expand abortion access in North Carolina.

This means we are thinking about local elections in 2023, state and national elections in 2024, and voting rights and electoral maps. We are also thinking about our state courts, particularly our state Supreme Court, and how those institutions may affect access to abortion.

State courts have long flown under the radar of many voters, despite the fact that we vote for state judges in North Carolina. With the fall of Roe in 2022, you may have heard about how some state courts are stepping in to protect abortion access based on a state’s constitution. You may have also heard that some state legislatures are attempting to further politicize or remove power from these courts. You may have even heard of a state supreme court reversing itself on voting rights rulings from less than a year ago. The courts are our third branch of government and are supposed to act as a vital check on the legislative and executive branches. They are much too important to be overlooked. 

It’s vital that we all know what is going on in our state court system! PCNC is honored to host a webinar where we will be joined by North Carolina State Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls. Justice Earls will talk with us about how our state courts impact our rights and lives, their role in guaranteeing equal justice under the law, and how all of this relates to our reproductive rights.