If a Florida parent wants to see the personnel file for their child’s public school teacher, the school would hand it over. In North Carolina, that parent probably would be turned away, said media lawyer John Bussian, who represents Carolina Journal…
John Bussian is the principal of the Bussian Law Firm, which specializes in media litigation and has long been a national leader in defending the First Amendment. Bussian and the firm, as its website says, have litigated myriad libel and open government…
The University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors Chairman Harry Smith has recused himself from all communications with East Carolina University, his alma mater, and the third largest school in the system. Now, UNC System offices are refusing to release a personnel review of the school’s embattled…
Open government violations at a Feb. 7 North Carolina Military Affairs Commission meeting prompted legislation to make such offenses a crime. The incident could affect the Senate confirmation process of Larry Hall as secretary of military and veterans affairs,…
A lawyer defending the News & Observer of Raleigh against a libel suit filed by a State Bureau of Investigation special agent suggested in court Wednesday that the case actually might be an attempt by the state to protect the image of the Department of Justice and State Crime Lab…
RALEIGH—A bill that would require courts to award attorney’s fees to the press and citizens who win public-record lawsuits against the state aroused spirited debate during a House committee hearing Thursday. John Bussian, legislative and First Amendment counsel for the North Carolina Press Association, told members of the House Judiciary…
