Clayton Ballentine created www.anybodybutcoble.org in 2024 to oppose Beverly Coble’s candidacy for mayor of Randleman, North Carolina.
Ms. Coble claimed the website constituted harassment and sought a civil no-contact order against Mr. Ballentine. The trial court granted her request and went even further, prohibiting him from publishing or speaking about Ms. Coble in any manner for one year.
On April 15, 2026, a unanimous panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that Mr. Ballentine’s public criticism of Ms. Coble “did not constitute unlawful conduct” and overturned the trial court’s no-contact order in full.