RALEIGH, NC – In a 4-3 ruling, a divided NC Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Paul Newby today overturned a pro-education decision in the landmark Leandro case. As a result of today’s disgraceful ruling, 1.5 million students across North Carolina will be left without critically needed funding for the state’s public schools.

Newby, joined by Justices Phil Berger, Jr., Tamara Barringer and Trey Allen, overturned a 2022 ruling by the North Carolina Supreme Court that recognized every North Carolina student’s constitutional right to a “sound basic education.” That 2022 decision had ordered the North Carolina General Assembly to adopt a plan to fund the state’s public schools. In a controversial move, the court agreed to re-hear the Leandro case almost immediately after Republicans claimed a majority on the court after the 2022 elections, leading to today’s outcome.

The following is a statement from Sailor Jones, State Director with Common Cause North Carolina, in response to today’s ruling:

“With today’s shameful opinion, a narrow majority on the state Supreme Court will leave 1.5 million school children now, and many more yet to come, without access to what is a constitutionally guaranteed right and our state’s once-admired public education legacy in tatters.

This decision is a stark reminder that judicial elections have profound consequences for the lives of North Carolinians. Just 401 votes in the 2020 race for chief justice gave Paul Newby his chance to deny 1.5 million students a sound basic education.

Today’s result in Leandro provides no better reason to cast a ballot for candidates up and down the ballot this fall who will support our fundamental freedoms.”

Common Cause North Carolina is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.