Judge Backs Dismissal of Defamation Case Related to NC Casino Argument

A North Carolina judge on May 30 upheld his choice to throw out a defamation lawsuit connected to the heated discussion about suggested casinos in Rockingham County. He denied claims of judicial bias and sent the plaintiff’s legal team to the state bar to face potential disciplinary measures.

Judge Tessener Says No Bias in Rockingham Lawsuit, Upholds Dismissal of Defamation Claims

Judge Hoyt Tessener of the Special Superior Court turned down a request to remove himself from the case. He said claims that he was biased had no basis and came up after he had made his decision, reported the Raleigh News & Observer. Craig Travis, who used to be a Rockingham County Commissioner, filed the lawsuit. He accused a group of political figures and organizations of damaging his reputation during the 2023 Republican primary. In that campaign, Travis’s strong stand against building a casino played a key part.

Travis just missed winning that race against Kevin Berger, who currently holds the position. Kevin’s dad, State Senate leader Phil Berger, spearheaded the 2023 legislative push to give the green light to casinos in Rockingham, Anson, and Nash counties. While the effort did not pan out, public records and court papers have shown The Cordish Companies, a casino operator based in Maryland, played a role behind the scenes.

In April, Tessener decided Travis’ claims of defamation did not hold water. He said the lawsuit seemed less about real damage to reputation and more like a continuation of the political fallout from the casino debate. On Friday, he stressed again that most of the claims were about the legislative fight over casinos and not about any lies that could be proven from the campaign.

Judge Dismisses Conflict of Interest Allegations Amid Heated Courtroom Exchange

The hearing got heated at times, with Judge Tessener butting heads with lawyers Kimberly Bryan and Alicia Jurney, who stand for Travis. The defense team claimed the judge’s previous campaign contributions to top GOP members, including $17,000 to former House Speaker Tim Moore and $1,000 to Phil Berger showed a conflict of interest. They also highlighted Tessener’s recent bench appointment by Moore and his supposed links to GOPAC, a national right-wing political group named in the lawsuit.

Tessener brushed off these worries, pointing out that neither Moore nor Phil Berger were defendants and that he had also given money to Democratic candidates before. Defense lawyer Ellis Boyle backed the judge’s stance, calling the bias claims a diversion from a weak legal case. Boyle speaks for two of the defendants and earlier described the lawsuit as an attempt to breathe new life into a failed political agenda through the courts.

With the judge’s refusal to step aside and the bar referral now underway, Travis’ legal choices might be shrinking. Still, his lawyers hinted they plan to keep fighting the dismissal through appeal.