Judge Rules Truthful Reporting on Criminal Expungements Isn't Libel
A judge dismissed libel claims over truthful reports on criminal charges and expungements.
Why it matters: This ruling clarifies the legal protections for truthful media reporting on criminal histories, balancing public interest with individual privacy. It's crucial for litigators, media counsel, and privacy advocates navigating defamation and expungement issues.
- On June 9, 2026, Judge Kenneth Bell ruled in Sunar v. Gray Local Media that truthful reporting on criminal charges and expungements cannot be libelous.
- Plaintiff Ramesh K. Sunar filed the defamation suit on February 18, 2026, against Gray Local Media, Inc. and related entities.
- The court emphasized that an individual's desire to erase their past does not justify libel claims over truthful publications.
- The case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
On June 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell issued a significant ruling in Sunar v. Gray Local Media, Inc. dismissing libel claims against Gray Local Media and related companies. The case involved plaintiff Ramesh K. Sunar, who alleged defamation stemming from truthful news articles reporting on his criminal charges and subsequent expungement.
The court found that despite Sunar's desire to nullify his criminal past, this motivation does not override the press’s right to report truthful information. Judge Bell stated, "The desire to undo the past cannot justify a libel claim over indisputably truthful articles about criminal charges and expungement."
This decision underscores a clear legal standard: media outlets cannot be held liable for publishing truthful facts about an individual's criminal record, even when those records have been expunged. It reaffirms that truth remains an absolute defense in defamation law, particularly in coverage involving criminal justice matters.
The case was filed on February 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. It involved defendants Gray Local Media, Inc., Gray Media, Inc., and Gray Television, Inc. The ruling provides important guidance for media counsel and litigators who handle defamation and privacy-related disputes, especially in the context of expungement reporting.
For legal professionals and privacy advocates, the ruling enhances clarity on the intersection of media reporting, criminal record expungements, and libel litigation, preventing attempts to use defamation claims to suppress truthful coverage.
By the numbers:
- February 18, 2026 — Date when the defamation lawsuit was filed.
- June 9, 2026 — Date of Judge Bell’s ruling dismissing libel claims.