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 ...
Oh puhleeze, LOL! Escort service dancer? Guess those militant blacks scared the newspaper into their politically correct place.
Tex and everyone. Sorry I've been gone today, but been visting my 91 yr. old widowec mom today.
Anyway, was the NYT article the only other major paper to write anything besides the N&O?
Sorry I have to ask: Who is Ruthie Sheehan? (forgive my ignorance). GREAT letter
Please learn to use the 'reply to' option when you want to respond, otherwise people will actually believe your tag line.
186 posted on 04/22/2006 3:48:27 PM EDT by Fido969 (It's all about ME)
And here I thought it was just the culture of the lacrosse team that was so out of hand !!! ;-)
Who hired them? Little green men from Mars? If you hire them, what does that make you?
Guys? Ever hear of stag parties? Lots hire them...Someone mentioned there were 31 services in Durham alone..
" Duke owns the house where this alleged gang rape occurred."
if/then:
Potential liability could have easily been a major consideration in the administrations treatment/abandonment of the team and coach....
Thanks for the ping.....Ha, they should have asked Freepers...
Well I feel old now : )
I'm an engineer (but not a train driver) and my wife's nursing also '79
Does that intersect either of your parents?
I didn't mind Edens that much. They were AIR-CONDITIONED which the rest of the campus, at that time, was not.
I'm not sure if the lax players really favor any given frat but I have heard about 4th hand that at least some are SAEs.
All us alums need to bombard Brodhead asking that he correct what is now appearing, more and more, as a great injustice. My wife and I have both written. Your family needs to do so too.
I continue to thank my lucky stars that I'm not attending during this PC era. If you think the Cameron Crazies are nuts now, you should have been there before universal TV coverage forced them to clean up their act. And that was in support of a team that generally lost except for that magical '78 Cinderella team that went to the national championship. If you don't know yourself, ask your parents to contine the lyrics to "Ring-a-ding ding ding ding...". They may be too embarassed to tell you and I'm not sure I'd even put them on FreeRepublic. Sung at evey B'ball game.
"I ask if they are hosting terrorists every time they call us for money (which they will never get)."
They quit calling me for donations years ago. Ever since Keohane extended benefits to gay "partners" I tell the poor
Undergrads that call that I will not give $ as long as the liberal policies are in place. Looks like I'm never going to be giving them any money, doesn't it?
I think Brodhead should be held accountable for this, as well. The first letter he sent out went on at great length about rape and white racism. Rather quick to throw the whole team to the wolves, wasn't he?
BTW, I tell everyone I know who's considering Duke for their children that they'd be better off going elsewhere. I know my kids will be.
CNN's story today on this issue mentioned that since Duke is private, due process doesn't apply. This was on their broadcast after lunch today. Don't recall exactly what time. I'll look on their site to see if a transcript extists...
Apparently not. Didn't you see them listed on one of Nifong's search warrants? : )
"Knowing Reade Seligmann as well as we do here at Delbarton, I believe him innocent of the charges," said the Rev. Luke L. Travers.The hearts and prayers of our community go out to Reade and his family, the woman who made the accusations, the players on the Duke lacrosse team and all their families."
Sounds like a real university friendly place. Isn't most housing around a college campus....college students?
Google is your friend.
For your line of questioning I refer you to Duke University Admin and/or Housing offices. Duke Community Housing
Perhaps they can assist you.
But if I was to assume, my assumption would be yes a lease would have had to be signed.
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