North Carolina Supreme Court justice drops lawsuit against ethics body investigating her diversity comments
January 22, 2024, 8:55 am CST
- !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); Tweet
- lang: en_US
-
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita S. Earls had filed an August 2023 lawsuit contending that the investigations by the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission chilled her right to free speech. (Photo from the North Carolina Judicial Branch website)
Judicial ethics regulators in North Carolina have dropped their investigation of a state supreme court justice who told a legal publication that her newly elected colleagues have an allegiance “to their ideology, not to the institution.”
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita S. Earls had filed an August 2023 lawsuit contending that the investigations by the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission chilled her right to free speech.
Earls has now dropped her suit, report Law.com, Law360 and Reuters.
Earls said the investigation partly stemmed from an interview that she gave to Law360. In that interview, Earls had criticized elimination of an equity committee and implicit bias training, which happened after the state supreme court flipped from a Democratic to a Republican majority.
Earls also noted a lack of diversity among law clerks on the North Carolina Supreme Court in the interview. And she told the publication that her colleagues seem to be unfairly interrupting female lawyers during arguments and to be interrupting her more than male justices.
In November, U.S. District Judge William L. Osteen Jr. denied Earls’ request to block the investigation during the litigation.
Earls said in a statement published last week by Law.com, Reuters and Law360 she sees no need to continue her suit because the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission has dropped its complaint against her.
“I continue to believe that the First Amendment protects my ability to speak about matters of racial equity in the legal system,” Earls said in the statement.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Related topics: States | First Amendment | Constitutional Law | Trials & Litigation | Judiciary | Government | Ethics | North Carolina | Careers | Career & Practice | Public Interest | State Government | Litigation Management You might also like:- Ex-bankruptcy judge claims immunity in suit alleging he retaliated against litigant who revealed romance
- Response to fake-citations query implicates attorney-client privilege, Michael Cohen's lawyer says
- Lawyer posted nude photos on public docket to humiliate and pressure opponent, federal judge concludes
- Lawyer for Michael Cohen apparently cited nonexistent cases, judge says; new counsel pointed out problem
- Navigating family law cases requires an abundance of one thing: respect
Introducing Jobbguru: Your Gateway to Career Success
The ultimate job platform is designed to connect job seekers with their dream career opportunities. Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone seeking a career change, Jobbguru provides you with the tools and resources to navigate the job market with ease.
Take the next step in your career with Jobbguru:
Don't let the perfect job opportunity pass you by. Join Jobbguru today and unlock a world of career possibilities. Start your journey towards professional success and discover your dream job with Jobbguru.