Paul Cox

Biography

Paul brings a wealth of experience in public law, elections, litigation, and regulatory policy to the benefit of his clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Paul served as general counsel to the North Carolina State Board of Elections and special deputy attorney general at the North Carolina Department of Justice. In these roles, Paul litigated high-profile constitutional, statutory, and administrative cases and advised state and local officials on complex legal and policy questions. He has extensive understanding of campaign finance regulation and election contests.

Paul also clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has frequently litigated at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts.

Before practicing law, Paul was a public relations professional and policy aide for federal political campaigns and elected officials. He draws on this background to help clients navigate legal challenges in the public eye.

Paul’s recent work includes:

• Successfully defending the rights of voters to be free from retroactively imposed voting restrictions;
• Obtaining an appellate decision protecting sensitive voter information from disclosure to a national political organization;
• Obtaining an appellate decision declaring unconstitutional a state law that stripped a municipality of ownership over its public utility;
• Defeating a constitutional claim related to the use of certain voting equipment;
• Obtaining an appellate decision upholding North Carolina’s laws regulating ballot access for unaffiliated candidates;
• Defeating a petition for attorney’s fees in a civil rights action based on intervening activity that mooted the case;
• Defending the constitutionality of state voting statutes at two bench trials;
• Drafting and successfully arguing for approval of dozens of administrative rules governing election policies and procedures; and
• Testifying as a witness on voter registration procedures in federal court.

Areas of Focus

Credentials