The spouses of two state Republican Supreme Court justices were top donors to GOP Judge Jefferson Griffin in his race to join the court. Griffin, a judge on the state Court of Appeals, is trying to unseat incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs.

Monday’s arguments focused on whether the case should be decided by state or federal courts — a decision which could be crucial in whether the results of the race are ultimately overturned.

A federal appeals panel argued with lawyers over the still-unresolved election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat.