10.19.99
The News & Observer (N.C.) 2 Durham driving cases get unusual treatment. ... Nezra Clark, with a record of 14 moving violations and a suspended license, took a chance in April 1998 when he got behind the wheel of a car. He lost. Clark was arrested for a 15th traffic violation and faced the possibility of losing his license for a year and spending 45 days in jail. Instead, Clark, 26, paid a $500 fine and walked out of the courthouse Sept. 2, 1999, with his driver's license in force. The difference between his case and thousands of others in Durham's traffic court: Clark was represented by H. Woody Vann, a lifelong friend and the campaign treasurer for Durham District Attorney Jim Hardin Jr., who personally signed off on Clark's plea agreement. ...
This "selling" of justice puts additional light on the entire Durham DA's Office. Hopefully as this is picked up Woody Vann will disappear as a the proxy for Nifong.
More on Vann ... How did he get this gig?
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:AVJMsdE9c7IJ:www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-621646.html+%22woody+vann%22+hardin+durham+-lacrosse&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox-a
Fatal DWI defendant gets new attorney
By John Stevenson : The Herald-Sun
jstevenson@herladsun.com
Jun 28, 2005 : 9:33 pm ET
DURHAM -- A Durham County Superior Court judge approved a new attorney for Kenneth Wayne Maready, who is charged with killing a 61-year-old grandmother in a drunken-driving crash four months ago.
Maready appeared before Judge Orlando F. Hudson in orange jail coveralls on Tuesday, despite an earlier ruling by the judge granting him permission to wear civilian clothes in preliminary proceedings.
Hudson said his ruling, which angered the dead woman's family, was necessary because of the high-profile nature of the case, which often draws media cameras. The sight of Maready in jail garb might turn prospective jurors against him, Hudson concluded.
But Maready said his civilian togs no longer fit because he gained 40 pounds since being locked up in February.
During the brief court appearance, it was revealed that lawyer Woody Vann will replace Assistant Public Defender Shannon Tucker as Maready's attorney. Vann will work at taxpayer expense, since Maready has been declared too poor to hire a lawyer on his own.
(snip)
Yeah, the Durham courthouse appears to be so casually corrupt that Nifong, Stephens etal think in their hearts they are ethical. The more you read about the goings on up there, the worse it seems.