Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking Bar investigation of Cooper

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a Raleigh attorney seeking to force the North Carolina State Bar to investigate his complaint against Attorney General Roy Cooper related to Cooper’s first campaign for the job.

WRAL-TV reported Judge Donald Stephens ruled against Gene Boyce, whose son lost to Cooper in the 2000 attorney general’s election. The Boyces sued over a campaign commercial that they said was false. That lawsuit was not settled until 2014.

Gene Boyce sued again in January, this time complaining the Bar had a conflict because it’s represented by the Attorney General’s Office. Cooper is now running for governor

Stephens last Friday criticized Boyce from the bench, saying he had a long time to seek disciplinary action through the court. Boyce plans to appeal.

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