How many think that Judge Stephens withdrew from the case, because he was afraid of getting removed from the bench for allowing Nifong to continue?
Afraid of removal? Are you kidding? He wanted off this case! I don’t think any of the judges in Durham wanted anything to do with it after it became so obvious that it was a hoax. By May — June at the latest — there was no question that this case would be dismissed. But none of those judges wanted to be the one who did it and alienate his black constituency.
And how did they get out of it? By getting Nifong to agree to the special designation, which cleared the way for a non-Durham judge to preside over this whole sordid matter. And didn’t Judge Smith play his role well.
Long ago on this forum, I wrote that the most interesting aspect of this case would be how the PTB got out of this mess. Judge Smith gave them the time to get their ducks in a row.
What I would give to know what really went on behind closed doors in the State of NC. The deals, the corruption, the circling the wagons — it really smells.