[pepperhead]

Stephens and Titus have shown what kind of men they are so far. And Hardin? He tried to railroad a black man for a rape he didn't commit and gave the real perpetrator of that crime a free pass. I don't any judge from Durham will do. I also would be leery of any judge assigned to this case by a democrat.

[don'tbedenied]

The news that this may be an "exceptional case" and get a non-Durham judge sounds like a logical solution for the Durham Courthouse cabal.
Look how it plays out: The new judge can make the tough rulings the locals don't want to make, e.g. throwing out the ID, change of venue. The case then is ultimately dismissed because of the new Judge (that's the Nifong/Durham pd spin). Nifong runs unopposed and gets his coveted job. Durham recedes from the public eye and the corrupt cabal returns to its wicked ways without scrutiny. The Duke power brokers breath a sigh of relief. Its perfect.
Remember that all elected officials are risk adverse. No elected Judge in Durham wants make a meaningful decision in this case--so they've been passing the hot potato. This is their way out and Nifongs too.