NC Supreme Court to rehear voter rights cases

By Loretta Cozart

On February 3, the North Carolina Supreme Court agreed to rehear two cases involving voter rights regarding “Whether congressional and legislative maps utilized for the 2022 election, which were drawn at the direction of this Court, are effective for future elections.”

Last November, Republican candidates won election to the supreme court, changing it from a 4 -3 Democratic majority to a 5 – 2 GOP majority.

In addition to the issue of legislative maps, the Court will also determine the constitutionality of

Voter ID laws and what impact, if any, those provisions of the North Carolina Constitution have on the Court’s analysis.

The two Democratic judges, Anita Earls and Michael Morgan objected to the court’s decision to rehear the case. Justice Anita Earls wrote: “Not only does today’s display of raw partisanship call into question the impartiality of the courts, but it erodes the notion that the judicial branch has the institutional capacity to be a principled check on legislation that violates constitutional and human rights.”

NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “The peo- ple of North Carolina sent a message election day. They clearly rejected the judicial activism of the outgoing majority. I am committed to fighting for the rule of law and will of the voters. It’s time for voter ID to be law, as the people of North Carolina have demanded.” Legislative defendants shall file supplemental briefs with North Carolina Supreme Court on or before February 17, and all plaintiffs and shall file supplemental briefs with the Court on or before March 3. The Court will hear the case on March 14.

Davidson Association bringing community resources to life

By Loretta Cozart

Members of The Davidson Association continue their work to establish a Community Resource Center in what was once Davidson Elementary School at 500 W. Parker Street in Kings Mountain. In keeping with the original intent of the school, their vision is to have the school facility become a center of hope and empowerment through education and training, as a model of self-determination.

The Davidson Alumni Association was formed out of a Davidson School Reunion celebration held in 1979, under the leadership of Karl Lee Jenkins, to preserve the heritage and school spirit of all Da- vidson meant to its former graduates and community and continue the school’s rich history of educating students.

The Alumni Association worked to see the Davidson Elementary School Building, built in the early 1950’s, designated a historical landmark by the state of North Carolina on May 18, 2016, and once again find its place in serving the community. Their goal is to preserve the heritage of Davidson School and implement sustainable programs for the community and surrounding counties.

The Davidson Elementary School Building was purchased by the Davidson Alumni Association from private donations in July 2019. To achieve this goal, the Alumni Association established the Davidson Alumni Resource Center Incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and it was registered with the state of North Carolina.

The non-profit was created to develop Davidson Elementary School as a “One Stop Shop” Resource Center to empower, engage, and impact families, individuals, the community and surrounding areas. As the Alumni Association grew, the vision began to expand to include quality

See DAVIDSON, Page 5A