An incumbent Democrat narrowly won re-election to the state’s highest court. But the Republican-controlled court is considering an unusual protest from her challenger that could flip the result.

The Republican-dominated North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked the state's elections board from certifying the results of an election to fill a seat on the court currently occupied by the leading Democratic candidate,

The move gives the court time to consider a challenge by Republican Jefferson Griffin, who has cited debunked legal theories in his previous failed attempts to block Justice Allison Riggs’ reelection.