CONTACT
Carolyn Bobb, VP of Communications
(202) 464-7371 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 7, 2026 – Today Wisconsin voters elected Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor to serve as the next justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Taylor’s victory will expand the liberal majority on the state’s highest court to 5-2 at a crucial time when the court is poised to hear cases involving union protections, school funding, abortion access, and the constitutionality of the state’s congressional district maps. With the balance of the court’s majority not in question, the race drew less national scrutiny and spending than previous Wisconsin Supreme Court elections in 2023 and 2025. Still, the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign contacted hundreds of thousands of voters in Wisconsin to urge them to participate in this important state supreme court election and to vote for Chris Taylor.

Tish Gotell Faulks, state courts director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement:

“AFJ Action was proud to support Judge Taylor for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and we are ecstatic for the people of Wisconsin tonight. A former member of the Wisconsin Assembly and former legal and policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Taylor has dedicated her career to fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Wisconsin residents. Her victory shows voters want judges who are committed to fairness, impartiality, and protecting our fundamental rights.

“We hope that Judge Taylor’s victory today serves as a bellwether for the 65 state supreme court elections occurring in 31 other states in 2026 as people across the country realize that our rights are only as good as the people we put on our courts to protect them.”

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 27, 2026 – As the U.S. Supreme Court continues to abdicate its responsibility to protect our civil rights and uphold the rule of law, state supreme courts are playing a huge role in protecting our democracy. A new report from Alliance for Justice and the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, The 2025 State of Justice, profiles the many developments in state supreme courts in 2025 and what to expect in those courts in the near future. 

Not only do state supreme courts hear many more cases than ever would advance through the federal courts, but the public also has a much bigger role to play in deciding who sits on those benches. Many states hold elections to select state justices or to retain them, and these elections grow more high-profile and more contentious every year. The 2025 state court elections in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania shattered previous spending records in both states, with over $18 million spent in Pennsylvania and a whopping $100+ million spent in Wisconsin — thanks in large part to Elon Musk’s attempt to buy a state supreme court seat. 

In 2026, voters in 32 states will have the opportunity to weigh in on who sits on their courts, deciding the occupants of 66 seats. This includes five partisan elections, 13 nonpartisan elections, and 14 retention elections. 

In states with an appointment process, there are incredible opportunities to increase the number of movement lawyers on the bench — those who have worked to protect everyday people instead of just the rich and powerful. Out of the 17 possible appointments across state courts in 2025, only two were filled by movement lawyers — Colleen Melody in Washington and Larkin Walsh in Kansas. In 2026, there are already nine vacancies waiting to be filled, and many more could open. 

Rachel Rossi, president of Alliance for Justice and Alliance for Justice Action, issued the following statement: 

“We cannot overstate the importance of our state supreme courts in 2026. So much attention is focused right now on challenges to the Trump administration playing out in federal courts, but in the meantime, our state supreme courts are tackling big questions about criminal justice, gun safety, immigrants’ and workers’ rights, reproductive freedom, and basic due process under the law. State and local voters and organizers have an incredible opportunity to shape their state supreme courts, but only if they know what’s at stake and how they can make an impact. Our organizations are proud to provide this vital report to ensure we are fighting for state supreme courts across the country that will continue to advance the cause of justice at a time when it otherwise feels so fleeting.” 

Click here to read The State of Justice 2025.

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 4, 2025 – With eyes largely on governor and mayoral races today, Pennsylvania also had an important retention election for three Democratic Supreme Court Justices: Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht. Voters retained all three, ensuring that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court can continue to do its essential work protecting democracy and civil rights. In particular, the court has played a key role in cases involving gerrymandering, voting rights, and election challenges that have ensured fair representation and access to the polls across the commonwealth. 

Tish Gotell Faulks, state courts director for the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“Today, Pennsylvania reminded us of the important role everyday voters have in ensuring a fair judiciary. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht have done such important work on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and deserved to be retained. They can now continue to protect every person entitled to due process under the law, defend our democracy from the perils of a policy agenda that abandons people in favor of corporations and billionaires, and continue safeguarding fundamental rights across the great commonwealth. With little else on the ballot, voters turned out to protect the court from preying special interests eager to undermine justice and impose an extremist agenda. We now look forward to 2026 and the 63 state supreme court seats across 33 states that will be on the line. We need every voter to show up as a ‘courts voter’ ready to protect our judicial system.” 

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2025 – Today, Jefferson Griffin finally conceded in the North Carolina Supreme Court race he lost by 734 votes back in November, finalizing incumbent Justice Allison Riggs’s win. Griffin’s concession follows a federal court ruling Monday that every vote must be counted and the election be certified. 

For the past six months, Griffin has been trying to throw out thousands of votes, primarily from parts of North Carolina with Democratic majorities. His argument was an attempt to retroactively change the laws and throw out votes that voters had every reason to believe were lawfully and properly cast. 

Tish Gotell Faulks, state courts director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“The ongoing fight to preserve democracy in North Carolina is over — for now. Jefferson Griffin’s attempt to cheat North Carolina voters by throwing out thousands of votes after the fact was always an attack on democracy itself. A lawful vote cast is a lawful vote cast, no matter how much the loser wishes that weren’t so. Justice Allison Riggs will continue to be a champion for all North Carolinians as the rightful winner of the election six months ago. 

“Let this be a warning, however, of how fragile our democracy is. Throughout Griffin’s fight, there were several judges willing to throw out lawfully cast votes to hand the election to the loser. We must be vigilant in countering conservative efforts to create barriers at the polls and suppress votes. Everyone deserves a chance to have their voice count, even in a state as gerrymandered as North Carolina.” 

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1, 2025 – Today the people of Wisconsin elected Susan Crawford, the Democratically favored nominee, to serve as the next justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She beat out Brad Schimel, whom President Trump and Elon Musk heavily favored. 

Tish Gotell Faulks, state courts director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“Today’s supreme court election in Wisconsin is a win for democracy and the people of The Badger State. It’s proof that American elections are not for sale, regardless of how much would-be oligarchs like Elon Musk want to buy them. Susan Crawford will be a champion for equal rights and the rule of law in a state still plagued by decades of Republican gerrymandering. By maintaining the Democratic majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, she will help preserve freedoms even as the Trump administration tries to demolish them. This race broke new spending records for state supreme court elections, a reminder of how important these seats are to maintaining the rule of law.” 

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2025 – Today the Associated Press reported that North Carolina Judge Jefferson Griffin, who is currently trying to invalidate 60,000 legitimately cast votes to overturn a state supreme court election he lost, has a history of praising the Confederacy and posing with the Confederate flag in Confederate garb. The photos come from his undergraduate days (1999–2003) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when he was a member — and president — of the Kappa Alpha Order, a fraternity that was “spiritually founded” by Robert E. Lee and that has long championed the false history of the Southern “Lost Cause.” 

While Griffin now claims the decision was “inappropriate,” a fellow member claims that he was adamant at the time about retaining the tradition when many chapters were abandoning it. In high school, Griffin had also written that Robert E. Lee was his number one choice on an “ideal guest list” for a party. 

Tish Gotell Faulks, state courts director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“When Jefferson Griffin was my student in constitutional law at North Carolina Central University School of Law, one of five HBCU law schools in the country, I taught that democracy must be delicately balanced. As lawyers, my students needed to understand that they were entering into a social contract to protect the interests of the people they serve, even at the expense of their own preferences. In his attempt to disenfranchise 60,000 voters, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color, Griffin is clearly violating that contract to propel his own legal career. Troublingly, it appears his biases against our democracy and the validity of every vote are more deep-seated than we previously realized. If Griffin truly cares about shedding the Confederate worship of his past, then he owes it to North Carolina to end his months-long voter suppression effort and allow democracy to prevail.” 

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 2024 – Voters in Michigan have elected Kimberly Thomas and reelected Kyra Harris Bolden to serve as associate justices on the Michigan Supreme Court. Justice Bolden has already proven in her time on the court that she is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Thomas has spent her career fighting for marginalized groups, including as a nonprofit legal defender.  

Jake Faleschini, Justice Program Director for the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“Given how important state courts have become for resolving major questions that affect everyone’s rights, health, and safety, today’s result is a fantastic one for the people of Michigan. AFJ Action was proud to support Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Thomas. From voting rights to consumers’ rights to gun violence prevention, the Michigan Supreme Court has been advancing the cause of justice for all Michiganders and we trust this result will ensure it can continue that important work.” 

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2024 – Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson has won reelection to his seat, defeating challenger John Barrow. While there were four seats under consideration in Tuesday’s election, Barrow was the only challenger to any of the incumbents. Competitive judicial elections are rare in Georgia because the secretary of state’s control over the elections allows them to effectively curtail efforts to challenge incumbents they wish to keep in power. Barrow called out Pinson’s role in helping defend a six-week abortion ban and was accused of ethical violations for implying as a judicial candidate how he’d rule in such cases. 

While the outcome is not surprising given the incumbent advantage and the way “judicial ethics” were weaponized to protect Justice Pinson, the race sparked important conversations about the importance of state supreme court elections. As the conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court rules against cherished rights and freedoms, state supreme courts can be an important stopgap — one that voters in many states can directly impact. 

Jake Faleschini, Justice Program Director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“The outcome in the Georgia Supreme Court race is disappointing, but this race opened a Pandora’s Box that won’t so easily be closed. How else should voters be expected to select a justice but for their understanding of the law and the way it protects them? The U.S. Supreme Court has specifically upheld the free speech rights of judges who are forced to run in elections. Our state constitutions can be more protective of our rights than the U.S. Constitution, and Barrow had every right to talk about his values on the campaign trail. 

“Georgia’s supreme court may not have become a safer place for reproductive rights, but we are encouraged by the discourse around this race. Voters deserve justices who care about the integrity of the law and not just a partisan agenda. This was only one election out of the 33 states holding supreme court elections across the country this year, and we look forward to state supreme court races where these vital issues receive the attention and scrutiny they deserve. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant.” 

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 10, 2024 – State supreme courts have always played a huge role in determining our rights and freedoms, but in the wake of massive U.S. Supreme Court decisions sending issues like reproductive freedom and access to democracy back to states, their role is in the national spotlight more than ever. A new report from the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign highlights the increasing focus on state court elections and some of the major cases these courts are handling. 

“State of Justice 2024: State Supreme Courts and the Future of Democracy” examines Wisconsin and Pennsylvania’s state supreme court elections in 2023, the first and second most expensive state court races in U.S. history. It also highlights several of the significant appointments and 30 notable major decisions that defined 2023 for state courts.  

The report also outlines the 2024 state supreme court elections, which include 82 races in 33 states, several of which could shift the balance of those state courts, and seven more expected vacancies in six other states. The report also previews 2025, in which there are expected to be elections for four seats in two states and four vacancies in three other states. 

Alliance for Justice Action Campaign President Rakim H.D. Brooks issued the following statement: 

“For too long, state courts have not received the attention they deserve, even within the states they serve. As we saw in 2023’s elections, however, races for seats on these courts are becoming significant political battlegrounds as state courts tackle vital issues core to the future of our democracy. This new report, a hallmark of our state courts advocacy, speaks to the major role state courts are playing in shaping our lives and the role we must play in monitoring who sits on these courts and what actions they take. We hope reports like this make it easier for voters to learn about their own courts and how they can get involved in this year’s many races.” 

Click here to read the full report: State of Justice 2024: State Supreme Courts and the Future of Democracy. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2023 – Today Pennsylvania voters elected Judge Dan McCaffery as the commonwealth’s next Supreme Court justice. With the support of workers and reproductive freedom advocates, McCaffery is poised to help the court uphold the law by preserving access to abortion, gun safety measures, and the right of every Pennsylvanian to have their vote fairly counted. The Alliance for Justice Action Campaign contacted hundreds of thousands of voters in Pennsylvania to let them know what was at stake in this election and to encourage them to vote for McCaffery. 

Alliance for Justice Action Campaign President Rakim Brooks issued the following statement: 

“In the wake of challenges to the 2020 election and the Dobbs decision, our state courts are more important than ever. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard over a dozen cases attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Thankfully, they rejected them all. The election of Dan McCaffery will help ensure the court will continue to protect the liberties of all people, including their access to the polls and to abortion. With significant cases on these matters on the horizon, Pennsylvania voters ensured that they will be handled with the care and consideration their constitution demands.”