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Occasionally, I’ll be highlighting the most significant cases moving through the courts in Rutherford County and beyond — cases that shape how justice is served in our communities and catch my attention. From indictments to local hearings and appellate rulings, Court Report from Cops & Congress will bring readers closer to the facts behind the filings. This newsletter is supported by readers like you. Paid subscribers have access to the full archive.
By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — A veteran attorney, former county commissioner candidate, and district bar leader is fighting a North Carolina State Bar effort to place him on disability inactive status, arguing the case is retaliation for his outspoken criticism of judges and court officials in District 41.
The case, filed in Rutherford County Superior Court as 26CV000427-800, pits the North Carolina State Bar against attorney Anthony Morrow, a Republican, in a civil proceeding that could determine whether he can continue practicing law.
The latest motion in the case was signed by the elected state attorney general, Jeff Jackson, a Democrat.
Unlike attorney discipline cases that typically involve allegations of misconduct, the State Bar’s filing seeks disability inactive status, a legal designation that can restrict an attorney’s ability to practice.
Morrow, a disabled Air Force veteran and current district bar treasurer, insists the case has nothing to do with his ability to represent clients and everything to do with his criticism of the local judicial system.
“This, me being disabled, is nothing but a distraction,” Morrow said during an interview with Cops & Congress. “I am a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. I deal with it. I manage it.”
Court records show the case was filed on March 16 and remains pending. A motion hearing is scheduled for June 9 in McDowell County before Superior Court Judge Gary Gavenus.
The court file reveals an increasingly contentious dispute. Morrow has filed motions to dismiss, motions to reconsider, witness subpoenas, and requests seeking testimony from judges, court officials, and law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, NC judicial branch employees recently filed a motion seeking a protective order for privileged material.
At the center of the dispute is Morrow’s claim that concerns about his disability surfaced only after he began publicly challenging local judges and prosecutors.
According to Morrow, he has practiced law while managing disabilities for years and has openly used a service dog when necessary.
There’s no evidence that this type of proceeding has ever been done in Rutherford County. Morrow said he’s been singled out.
“I’ve been serving as an attorney with a disability since roughly 2018,” he said. “It would be impossible for me to hide a disability.”
During a lengthy interview, Morrow leveled broad criticism at Rutherford County’s judicial system, accusing judges and court officials of operating without clear written policies and failing to hold public officials accountable.
“In a society where we get hauled into court because we didn’t follow some rule written on a paper somewhere that we didn’t know about, we are in trouble,” Morrow said. “But the judges and the prosecutors, they don’t even have to write down what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Morrow also criticized the handling of Department of Social Services cases, court administration, and prosecutorial practices. Those allegations have not been proven in court, and no findings have been made supporting the claims.
The attorney said he intends to call numerous witnesses in the disability proceeding, including judges and court officials he believes were involved in raising concerns about his fitness to practice law.
“I want the people that are accusing me of being disabled to come to court and answer to that,” Morrow said.
The case has attracted attention because disability inactive proceedings involving attorneys are relatively uncommon and often involve sensitive medical information.
Morrow argues that the proceeding has expanded beyond legitimate questions about accommodations and into demands for extensive personal medical records.
“We’re talking psychiatric records, medical records going back to when I was 17 years old,” he said.
Despite the ongoing litigation, Morrow maintains there is no evidence he failed to represent clients competently or violated professional rules.
“For me, they have nothing that they can point to,” he said. “I know and knew what I was doing at every step of these proceedings.”
The June 9 hearing is expected to focus on pending motions and witness issues as the case moves forward.
No court has ruled on the merits of the State Bar’s allegations, and the matter remains pending.
I requested a comment from Judge J. Thomas Davis regarding allegations raised by Morrow. No response had been received as of publication. This article will be updated if a statement is provided.
The North Carolina State Bar is listed as the plaintiff in the case after Davis initiated it, when it was first filed as None, None v. Morrow.
For now, the dispute has evolved beyond a disagreement over one attorney’s disability status and into a broader public fight over transparency, accountability, and the operation of the courts in Rutherford County and western North Carolina.
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🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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