On March 4, a North Carolina state trial court invalidated the new law setting up retention elections for State Supreme Court Justices. The case is Faires v State Board of Elections, Wake County Superior Court, 15cvs-15903. Here is the short opinion. The state will likely appeal to the State Supreme Court. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. Today’s opinion was not surprising, because the judges had said last week that they were going to rule this way. The State Constitution mandates elections for Supreme Court, and the Faires court said a retention election is not a real election.