Marshall's office sued

A nonprofit center that opposes government incentives for businesses has sued Secretary of State Elaine Marshall's office because it can't get any information about a lobbying complaint.

The N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, which is led by former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, filed the lawsuit saying that state officials have misinterpreted state law governing whether information about lobbying violations or complaints can be released.

The Secretary of State's office has responsibility to oversee aspects of lobbying and has been advised by the Attorney General's office that state law makes any information about violations or complaints a secret. Officials in Marshall's office have asked lawmakers to relax the law.

A spokesman for Marshall, who is facing a primary runoff today in her bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, said the office had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

The center had previously filed a complaint because it thinks consultants who tried to get incentives for SpiritAero Systems, which was considering opening a manufacturing plant in the state, should have registered as lobbyists.

The suit is asking a judge to declare the records public.