A North Carolina trial judge has upheld decisions by election officials to reject protests by the trailing candidate in a very close state Supreme Court election.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that North Carolina's disputed race for a seat on the state Supreme Court must be reviewed in state courts before the matter can go before a federal tribunal.

Jefferson Griffin, the Republican candidate in the North Carolina State Supreme Court election, is appealing a Wake County judge's decision to allow 60,000 ballots to be counted in the race.

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 Wake County judge on Friday rejected election protests from Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin in his battle over 60,000 ballots.