Gag Order Overturned in Beaufort Dispute

The state Court of Appeals has vacated a gag order issued by a judge during a court dispute between the Beaufort County school board and the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.

The school board sued the commissioners a year ago over inadequate funding, and the trial judge issued a gag order preventing the two sides from speaking to reporters. A Greenville television station filed court papers seeking to have the order lifted, but the judge denied the order.

The appellate judges ruled there was no reason for implementing the gag order and admonished the judge for not holding a hearing to set forth his reasons for issuing the order and then declining to remove it.