McGuireWoods’ pro bono legal work helped two North Carolina news organizations obtain public records that shed light on federal and state investigations into alleged abuses of power at the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. The Assembly recounted its years-long effort to obtain the documents, in tandem with Border Belt Independent, and McGuireWoods’ crucial role in winning the legal battle, in a Jan. 20, 2026, story.
The journalists’ requests for records were ignored, delayed or denied for months, even though state law is clear that government officials have a duty to produce responsive public records. Such stonewalling often stymies investigative reporters, but The Assembly turned to pro bono legal support through the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) and McGuireWoods lawyers Joie Johnston and Brad Kutrow. The RCFP and McGuireWoods team disputed the denials and, when other measures failed, filed a lawsuit to compel Columbus County officials to release the records.
“We did everything possible to engage with the sheriff and commissioners, through their counsel, to get them to comply with the public records law and avert litigation,” Johnston told The Assembly. “But in the end, taking our case to court was the only way we could get the sheriff and the county to comply with the law or even engage in meaningful discussions.”
McGuireWoods attorneys spent more than 350 hours working on the case; most people can’t afford to pay for that kind of service when public officials don’t follow the law, the newspaper reported. “Most newsrooms can’t, either, which is perhaps why so many public agencies feel emboldened to ignore the law these days,” the story reads. “We certainly could not have sued without our pro bono support.”