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DA on the spot for comments
Raleigh News &Observer ^ | April 22, 2006 | Michael Biesecker, Benjamin Niolet and Joseph Neff

Posted on 04/22/2006 2:45:35 AM PDT by abb

Defense lawyers and legal experts say District Attorney Mike Nifong may have crossed ethical lines in public comments about rape allegations involving Duke University lacrosse players, potentially prejudicing jurors and setting off a media maelstrom.

Nifong says that he has done nothing wrong, though he has ceased talking with reporters about allegations made by an escort service dancer hired to perform at a March 13 team party. He would speak only about his handling of the case Friday.

"In terms of what I said, no, I wouldn't say I regret anything I've said," Nifong said. "I think what I have learned, basically, is that if you cooperate with the media out of a sense of duty to public truth, you make yourself a victim."

Local observers were hard-pressed this week to remember a case with so much back-and-forth between the prosecution and defense playing out in a 24-hour news cycle. It has some suggesting a judge should step in with a gag order.

Defense attorneys for the lacrosse players say it is their clients who have been victimized by Nifong, and they blunt criticism of their own extensive public comments by saying they are just attempting to limit the damage. Some also said photos, ATM receipts and other evidence they claim exonerates the two team members arrested Tuesday were given to the media only after Nifong refused to look at them.

In its ethical rules, the N.C. State Bar orders lawyers to refrain from statements outside the courtroom that they know might have "a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing" legal proceedings. But once one side talks to the press, ethics rules say the other side can make statements "a reasonable lawyer" would believe are required to protect a client from bad publicity.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: da; duke; dukelax; nifong
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To: abb
"In terms of what I said, no, I wouldn't say I regret anything I've said," Nifong said. "I think what I have learned, basically, is that if you cooperate with the media out of a sense of duty to public truth, you make yourself a victim."

Priceless! Nothing like a good laugh when you have insomnia. Thanks for the ping.

21 posted on 04/22/2006 3:49:17 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

I love it when the enemy begins to cut each other up...


22 posted on 04/22/2006 3:52:51 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: abb

The N&O coverage has been so one-sidedly biased in favor of the accuser that their own Reader's Editor (ombudsman) has taken the editors to task twice: 1) First, in response to the paper's early softball interview with the accuser which was entirely sympathetic and didn't include any similar information about the players and 2) when the paper in the front section of its Sunday, April 2 edition, printed the team poster with pictures and names included. I wonder how long the accuser or Kim might have spent examining that poster before any IDs were made?


23 posted on 04/22/2006 3:58:45 AM PDT by GAgal
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To: GAgal

I went back and carefully read the N&O article. They've definitely thrown Nifong under the bus...


24 posted on 04/22/2006 4:00:34 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

I love how Nifong says "you make yourself a VICTIM", instead of "you make yourself a TARGET". He sees the world through a warped prism, and is entirely unfit to hold the lives of people in his hands.


25 posted on 04/22/2006 4:01:38 AM PDT by GAgal
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To: abb
Here's one that smells like carp: http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_111171033.html CBS) SANTA ANA, Calif. A piano teacher who gives lessons through the Fletcher Music Academy in Orange and in homes remained jailed Friday for allegedly committing a lewd act on a female student under age 14, officials said. Daniel Peter Gaudin, 57, of Orange, was arrested Thursday night at his home in Orange and was booked at the Orange County Jail, with bail set at $100,000, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. "A housekeeper (in the alleged victim's home) observed the suspect do something inappropriate," Amormino said, describing the activity as "inappropriate touching." They left out some information. We saw this on the news last night and looked at each other in shock when the news guy basically proclaimed him guilty. One thing left out (from the original broadcast story)was that he never was alone with his students. Then they said he deliberately switched times when he knew neither parent would be home. Well I guess he figured the housekeeper would suffice. Also, the revised edit claims that this has been going on for months. Pretty slick guy to be able to molest a girl in full view of her parents. Especially when he's giving piano lessons. We'll see. You get enough cops and social workers hammering on a kid, and they'll say anything to make it stop.
26 posted on 04/22/2006 4:02:19 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

CBS playing up that the DA went easy on Kim Roberts for the probie violation...


27 posted on 04/22/2006 4:08:00 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: abb

The media is bailing on this big time. Too bad they don't know how to be fair and impartial from the get go. From what I've been reading, even Nancy Grace has shut her big mouth. Now that's something.


28 posted on 04/22/2006 4:12:56 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

We had even set up a separate thread for NG last nite. She spent all of 45 seconds on the story...


29 posted on 04/22/2006 4:14:06 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: GAgal
I love how Nifong says "you make yourself a VICTIM", instead of "you make yourself a TARGET". He sees the world through a warped prism, and is entirely unfit to hold the lives of people in his hands.

Excellent point. If anything, he is a victim of his own incompetence and narcissism. At this point, I don't care who defeats him, as long as he's gone. It will send a message to DA's in every state. If it doesn't, we need to start sending one.

30 posted on 04/22/2006 4:23:05 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: abb

Man, formatting is my friend : (

I'm glad that CBS has jumped on the bandwagon, but their previous reporting was the typical tripe we've been reading about. Of course this is the Los Angeles area station we're watching. Others might be reporting differently.


31 posted on 04/22/2006 4:25:21 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: abb
"...if you cooperate with the media out of a sense of duty to public truth, you make yourself a victim."

Way to go, Mike...jump on that victimhood bandwagon. It seems to be working so well for Crystal. Maybe you'll get the Rainbow Coalition to pay your legal fees when you're hauled up before a judge for malfeasance.

32 posted on 04/22/2006 4:34:30 AM PDT by shezza (God bless our military heroes)
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To: shezza

Roy Black up on NBC about this case...


33 posted on 04/22/2006 4:36:10 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

Someone on another thread this morning posted an article from 1992 about a police corruption case in which the DA brought in the SBI to clean house. The DA then was Ronald L. Stephens, who is now the judge who handled the recent indictments. I think one reason there hasn't been a gag order issued is because Stephens, a former DA, realizes how unethical Nifong has been and is allowing the defense to leak evidence that points to the players' innocence.


34 posted on 04/22/2006 4:37:43 AM PDT by GAgal
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To: GAgal

Discussion upcoming on Fox & Friends shortly...


35 posted on 04/22/2006 4:49:25 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: GAgal

So at least the judge has some brains?


36 posted on 04/22/2006 4:55:14 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

Fox just said Craig Mitnik will be on to discuss case...


37 posted on 04/22/2006 5:01:45 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: abb; Howlin; Peach
Well the newsprint and TV media have all had their fun at the young men's expense!

They hyped it to the skies when it first unfurled and beat the reputations of all those guys to mincemeat!!!!

No way....I say NO WAY should the families of these boys allow anyone to say...'nothing to see here, let's move on'....ONCE Nyfond and gang realize they've been had!

These students have lost respect...(for goodness sakes, lots of them were't even there)...they've lost school time, credits, some have lost job potential!!!!!

The parents of these young men should ream out!! the media, the DUKE PRESIDENT! who I think a wuss of the highesest order, the DA, the strippers, etc etc etc.

Given these men have learned a hard lesson about what their 'fun time' should involve.....

...but for goodness sakes, they're college age young men, 18, 19, 20....and college age young men...and women...do stupid things.

This outcome is beyond believable.

I hope the parents hang on to the culprits like pitbulls and get their names cleared!!!!!!

38 posted on 04/22/2006 5:10:47 AM PDT by Guenevere
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To: Guenevere

The payback's gonna be a bitch for the Driveby Media. Count on it....


39 posted on 04/22/2006 5:12:04 AM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
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To: abb

Turned it on. Usually miss every darn show. Thanks for the ping.


40 posted on 04/22/2006 5:16:05 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (I care for my pets better than Vincente Fox cares for his own citizens)
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