Justice Riggs has spent her entire career fighting for equal justice under the law for every North Carolinian. She’s proud to have served on the North Carolina Supreme Court since her appointment by Governor Roy Cooper in 2023. She is the youngest woman to ever serve on the high court.

 

She grew up in the mountains of West Virginia in a family with a proud tradition of military service. After putting herself through college, graduate school, and law school at the University of Florida, she worked on behalf of hundreds of citizens who had lost their right to vote as a result of interaction with the criminal justice system. It was in Florida that she found her passion for public service and making sure that every person had the right to vote.

 

After law school, Justice Riggs spent 14 years as a civil rights and voting rights attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham, North Carolina, eventually serving as the Co-Executive Director for Programs and Chief Counsel for Voting Rights. She worked with communities across the South to advocate for fair elections and safe and healthy environments. On two occasions, Justice Riggs argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in landmark redistricting cases. 

 

Since her appointment to the North Carolina Supreme Court, Justice Riggs has approached every case with thoughtfulness, compassion, and a commitment to the rule of law. As a justice, her guiding principles are integrity, transparency, consistency, and empathy. As your voice on the court, Justice Riggs will ensure that the Supreme Court delivers justice to all North Carolinians without fear or favor.