As many residents of Newberg have likely learned from other bias media publications such as the Newberg Graphic that on January 25, 2023 Judge Cynthia Easterday ruled that former Newberg school board directors Dave Brown and Brian Shannon, and current school board directors Renee Powell and Trevor DeHart, violated public meeting laws when the school board voted to hire conservative lawyer Tyler Smith. Easterday’s ruling declares that these board directors are responsible for reimbursing the school district over $40,000 in legal fees paid to Smith’s firm.