I remember him as a tough DA. When I was growing up in Durham, I was told never to get a speeding ticket in Durham Co because they threw the book at you there.
I remember him from the famous
Barbara Stager murder trail, he was the DA in the case and he did something at the time I considered risky. He introduced evidence that she possibly killed her first husband, and it worked, he got a conviction and the death penalty. The DP was later overturned.
The trial was moved out of Durham. He may be inclined to support Nifong "risky" moves. Willis P. Whichard, a school chum of my mother, was on the NC Supreme Court and he is now the Dean of the law school at Campbell University. He just wrote an editoral somewhat supporting Nifong.