Posted on 01/24/2007 5:42:13 AM PST by broncoholic
Earlier this month, Durham Country District Attorney Mike Nifong changed the course of the Duke lacrosse saga by sending a letter to the North Carolina attorney general's office, requesting that it take over the case.
ABC News obtained a copy of that letter, which describes, in Nifong's own words, the reasoning and circumstances behind his decision.
According to the letter, Nifong felt he had to step down after being served an ethics complaint by the North Carolina State Bar, charging him with violations of professional conduct. The charges, filed Dec. 28, accuse Nifong of making improper and potentially prejudicial comments about Duke lacrosse players and the case against them.
"In addition to fueling any existing public perception that I have a conflict of interest in this matter, this filing has also created an actual conflict, as I am now personally the subject of an investigation and charges in this case," Nifong wrote of the ethics complaint.
On Wednesday, Nifong is expected to appear at a prehearing conference related to the ethics violation complaint. The meeting, to be held in a courtroom at the offices of the North Carolina Bar, is in preparation for a May 11 trial. If the three-person panel presiding at that trial finds Nifong guilty, they could hand him a punishment ranging from private reprimand to disbarment.
In his letter, Nifong also mentioned public statements made by his fellow North Carolina district attorneys, who called for him to step down. The North Carolina conference of district attorneys issued a Dec.29 press release stating that Nifong should recuse himself from the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Nifong is a liar!
ALL psychopaths are liars, and the job of DA is an absolute magnet for psychopaths. Huge power with little or no liability, and the vast majority of them are demokkkrats. The job of DA needs to be abolished. NOBODY should have any sort of a money or career interest in putting people in prison.
So how long until the new prosecutor assigned to the 'case' drops the whole thing?
It certainly makes one wonder how many other cases he's ramrodded through and ruined innocent people's lives.
Multiply that in North Carolina, where the legal system can screw innocent people and the general public would never know, if it weren't for cases like this. I think they should reopen all of Nifong's past cases and examine his activities.
nifong recusal letter link
"Multiply that in North Carolina, where the legal system can screw innocent people and the general public would never know,"
That is everywhere in the country.
I seem to recall a judge ordering a dna test on the accusers baby. Whatever became of that?
It might occur everywhere in the country, but it happens far too much in North Carolina. I have never seen a state with such a corrupt system.
"So long, it's been good to know ya'..."
The article states that Nifong's letter was addressed to Jim Coman, the man to whom AG Roy Cooper has now assigned the case for prosecution or other disposition.
Coman and Nifong have a prior relationship, as they were once prosecutorial co-workers. Is that not at least a POTENTIAL conflict of interest worthy of consideration?
Why was Nifong's letter not addressed to Mr. Cooper himself?
Was there some secret handshake by which the case was predetermined to be given to Coman?
Was Nifong aware of any such development?
It sure seems likely...and improper...and possibly unethical in and of itself.
This whole thing continues to stink to high heaven, and further exposes the widespread corruption within the NC justice system.
I am going to be sick...
"It might occur everywhere in the country, but it happens far too much in North Carolina. I have never seen a state with such a corrupt system."
And you are basing this statement on what outside of Durham County and a close study of what other states? Or are you just spouting off based on the Duke case with little to no outside information?
I am speaking of personal experience in North Carolina compared to California, Florida, Texas and Virginia where I have seen much more fairness.
I know several people who have experienced similar treatment as the Duke students, but they didn't have the resources to fight it. Several were out thousands of dollars, one went to prison, and one fought a civil case for 5 years before it was finally tossed out.
In North Carolina, any idiot can go down to the local Magistrate and swear out a false complaint with little (if any) legal exposure.
You seem somewhat defensive about the North Carolina justice system. Are you a law enforcement officer, judge, or prosecutor?
Did you know that if you get a major violation in North Carolina (example: 80mph in a 55mph zone) that you can get a private attorney, give him $400 cash, and he can get it changed to a "fix-it" ticket so no violation shows up on your DMV records? Does that sound like a clean system to you? Who do you think that lawyer shares the $400 with?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.