This journey to this point was not a normal one,” Justice Anita Earls told the crowd gathered to watch Justice Allison Riggs’ swearing in.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in to a new term on Tuesday after the Democrat won a monthslong fight against her Republican rival’s challenges to thousands of ballots. The State Board of Elections earlier Tuesday issued an election certificate to Riggs based on the incumbent's 734-vote victory

The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday officially certified Allison Riggs as the declared winner of the state Supreme Court race, which has been contested by her competitor since