Nifong a Topic at State Bar Council (and Feds Decline to Act for Now)

Eyewitness News 11 ^ | 1/16/07

[freespirited]

This week Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong could be slapped with more charges related to his handling of the Duke Lacrosse case.

This week the State Bar Council will be holding its quarterly meetings in Raleigh. During this time, the agency could add ethics charges against the Durham district attorney.

Nifong recused himself from the Duke Lacrosse case shortly after the state bar filed an ethics complaint against him last month. He's accused of misconduct for statements he made to the media last spring.

In a letter obtained by Eyewitness News, defense attorney, Joe Cheshire requested to meet with Nifong in March about the statements.

"I do not understand why you will reportedly speak to the media in such certain, condemning terms before all the evidence is in, but you will not have the courtesy to meet or even speak with a representative of someone you have publicly condemned," Cheshire stated in the letter.

Nifong could also face additional charges for withholding DNA evidence that was favorable to the accused players. Evidence that is now in the hands of the state's Attorney General.

"We accept these cases with our eyes wide open to the evidence, but with blinders on for all other distractions," Roy Cooper said.

The State Bar Council meets today.

The council will decide this spring if his public comments about the case were a violation of the professional rules of conduct. Nifong's ethics meeting is scheduled for May.

No Federal Probe

The U.S. Attorney General's office has responded to Congressman Walter Jones' request for a federal probe of the Duke Lacrosse Case.

In a letter delivered Thursday, Alberto Gonzales' office wrote that it would be, "Premature to initiate a federal investigation pending a criminal trial."

This means the Attorney General will not be getting involved in the case at this time.

[Tallguy]

Do you think it is "possible" that state law takes precedence in this matter? I do.. It's got to grind through the state.

I guess you're right, but just once in my life I'd like to see a federal civil rights statute used to stop a race hustle rather than perpetuate one. These lacrosse players are as much victims of state judicial misconduct as any Black victim during the Jim Crow era.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I may never be able to stop laughing at such cleverness.

[Enterprise]

I did not infer that there was one.

[mathurine]

prosequted? Didn't you mean prostituted. That would make the punishment fit the crime.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Do you go out of the way to miss the point? Or does it just come naturally? Asking for an FBI investigation at this point is not unusual. Having it go anywhere at this point would be unprecedented.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Finally a more intelligent comment.

[justshutupandtakeit]

You should stop while you are behind and avoid the embarassment.

[Enterprise]

The arrest itself was brought about by the actions directed by Nifong. The freedom of the players was violated when they were put into jail. He knew or should have known that the accusations were false. This was amply demonstrated recently when the rape charge was dropped. The loss of property occurred when they were forced to put up bail money for a false arrest. Based on these things, which are factual, I believe that there is more than enough to request a Federal investiation into civil rights violations.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The post you referenced me to did. Was there some other reason you would have responded to 92 if you disagreed?

[Enterprise]

"You should stop while you are behind and avoid the embarassment."

The only "behind" here is you.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Even more humor from you. Guess I won't need to watch South Park this week having gotten my quota of laughs from you.

[Enterprise]

Great, we agree here then. All I am really asking for is an investigation into civil rights violatins. While I WOULD like to see it go to the level of a civil rights prosecution, I will be generous and settle for the investigation first.

[Enterprise]

Just send your donations to the Freepathon.

[justshutupandtakeit]

If Nfong is hung while we bitch at each other I will be a happy man.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I don't do no Freepathons, I contribute monthly. Join me, it is painless.

[Enterprise]

LOL - me too. I don't donate daily. I contribute 100 dollars each quarter. And thank you too. This is a truly special forum!

[justshutupandtakeit]

Where else could I get such a great FReeper mug AND be able to fight with friends?

[JLS]

So your theory is that all the federal conspiracy statutes that apply to the rest of us were written in such a way that they do not apply to attorneys or specifically prosecutors? I suspect if they tried the feds could make a federal case here for conspiring to violate the defendants civil rights. In some ways this comes down to whether the federal government will step in to help citizen being mistreated by a state based on the percentage of the identity groups that person is a member of who vote 'rat. If a GOP DOJ allows that to be the case, why should any of us vote GOP? With a 'rat administration we get the same result. [This is actually the only issue I feel this way about, but it is a serious issue.]

Finally Jezebelle and all, maybe we could give Gonzolas the benefit of the doubt IF THE PENDING TRIAL HE WAS REFERING TO IS SCHEDULE 11 MAY, for defendant Nifong.

[Enterprise]

I'm Irish, fighting is genetic. So here's a salute from me and my friend Jack!

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Nothing is going to happen to this criminal. The feminazis and the race-hucksters will start their hysterical yelling and threatening and no politician will stand up to them. No charges will be brought against this lawbreaker and the whole matter will be forgotten. Except by us.