WSOC had criticized Brown's federal court request as improper.
"Despite labeling his motion as seeking an emergency 'protective order,' Defendant Brown actually seeks a federal injunction. Defendant Brown asks this Court to prohibit Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department from producing law enforcement recordings to WSOC-TV to review in compliance with the state court's recent order," WSOC- TV's lawyers wrote.
"Further, Defendant Brown seeks to halt WSOC-TV's current civil lawsuit for the release of these recordings. This motion runs afoul of 28 U.S.C. § 2283, the Anti-Injunction Act, and must be denied."
"Enjoining WSOC-TV and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department from proceeding with the state court's mandate would strike at the sovereignty of the North Carolina court system," argued attorneys.
"The parties were all present at the January 5, 2026 state court hearing and had an opportunity to be heard. The state court considered the arguments of all interested parties and evaluated the factors required under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1.4A(g). At the conclusion of the hearing, the state court ordered the production of the videos to WSOC-TV, pursuant to certain restrictions."
The TV station also argued that Brown failed to show any concrete harm, noting the recordings are restricted from public release, and that witness safety and fair-trial concerns were already considered by state Superior Court Judge Troy Stafford.
"Throughout his motion, Defendant Brown broadly refers to an alleged irreparable harm to his rights to due process and a fair trial," wrote WSOC- TV's lawyers.
"However, Defendant fails to explain how the videos being provided to WSOC-TV alone to review, under restriction from being released to any other third party, would result in any perceived deprivations, even if the state court eventually orders release."
Zarutska's stabbing death attracted international media attention. It prompted North Carolina legislators to approve Iryna's Law, a measure Gov. Josh Stein signed on Oct. 3.
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