Rape Charges against Dule Lacrosse player dropped

[HOZ]

Queue Lawsuit
These kids had their lives and schooling ruined by the Bravado of politicing weisel.

While the three accused lacrosse players may find some closure with the charges dropped, Nifong's fate remains unclear — he could lose his license to practice law in North Carolina due to the ethics charges. Cooper's public statements are unlikely to help Nifong, whom he described as a "rogue" prosecutor who the state needed to step in and stop.


If you haven't followed this miscarriage of justice you missed another Fells Acres episode in justice.

[Cowperson]

One legal analyst I saw last night described this as the greatest example of high profile prosecutorial abuse of the last 50 years in America.

Cowperson

[Coelah]

This was an obscene miscarriage of justice. A prosecutor who caved to racist pressure of the black community and tried to railroad these players. The black community needs to look itself in the mirror and ask itself why they were so willing to hang these white players simply because the so-called victim was black. The case stunk from day one but that didn't matter.

Duke needs to look at itself as well. There is a reason free democracies have the tenet of innocent until proven guilty and this case is a prime example of it.

[Bobblehead]

Are the days of "Innocent until proven guilty" over?

It seems the media wants to play prosecutor and judge in cases like this, and the public makes up it's mind base upon the media coverage.

Will this now get the same level of coverage as the initial charges? I doubt it. The majority of people who remember this incident will remember the rape allegations, not the dropping of charges. The only way this will remain in the media spotilight is if the over-zealous prosecutor is prosecuted, but almost everyone other than the falsely accused will be wanting this story buried.

[socalwingfan]

Originally Posted by Coelah

This was an obscene miscarriage of justice. A prosecutor who caved to racist pressure of the black community and tried to railroad these players. The black community needs to look itself in the mirror and ask itself why they were so willing to hang these white players simply because the so-called victim was black. The case stunk from day one but that didn't matter.

Duke needs to look at itself as well. There is a reason free democracies have the tenet of innocent until proven guilty and this case is a prime example of it.

nm

[Clever_Iggy]

The 3 Duke players called for changes to the justice system and restraints of the media. Amen. Whether they did it or not, they were crucified before they even got into the court room.

Im looking at CNN to put a muzzle on that dog they have following this case - Nancy Grace. She would have had these three castrated if she could. I dont think she understands the damage her "seeking ratings" comments have on the reputations of the accused. There was a story about a women killing herself after appearing on Nancy Grace in connection with the disappearance of her child.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Nifong should go to prison.

I don't know the laws of the state of North Carolina so I can't speak to what crimes he could or could not be charged with, but the man's actions were absolutely criminal.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Nifong should go to prison.

I don't know the laws of the state of North Carolina so I can't speak to what crimes he could or could not be charged with, but the man's actions were absolutely criminal.

He'll face the ethics board and will mostly likely be disbarred.

The only charge I could find would potentially be obstruction of justice but the standard to prove that is substantially higher than the standard for disbarring him.

I agree though - he ruined these 3 kids' lives and an entire team's season.

[transplant99]

He'll face the ethics board and will mostly likely be disbarred.

Unfortunately no he won't be disbarred.

He will probably get some sanctions against him by the NC bar assc, and possibly a suspension, but beyond that there will be nothing else done.

the accused aren't even likely to sue him as the proof needed to win is so overwhelming when going after prosecutors, it's nearly impossible. This is to protect them from every non-guilty verdict they end up with. There should be a happy medium, but there isn't.

The guy purposely with held exculpatory evidence that would of seen the charges most likely dropped long ago and all he will end up with is a non-paid vacation.

Brutal.

[CaptainCrunch]

What are the chances that he'll be fired from the prosecutors office, I haven't seen anything to that effect yet.

He's probably ruined his career anyways, and if he stays as a prosecutor it will probably be as the guy that prosecutes hookers in a night court presided over by Judge Harry Anderson.

[Cowperson]

Howard Kurtz, media critic of the Washington Post, examines the role of media in the Duke case . . . good job by Kurtz.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

And essayist Tim Meyer with an interesting piece at CBS regarding our fascination with prematurely tearing down both the guilty and the innocent.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2675201.shtml

I have to say though, that in spite of the self-flaggelation we're seeing on the Duke case right now, that there was a lot of skepticism as to the veracity of these charges very early on, that not everyone was convicting these guys off the hop.

We might remember the nearly 100% agreement on the early arrest of a suspect in the Atlanta Olympic bombing that turned out to be 100% wrong as a comparable.

Cowperson

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Are the days of "Innocent until proven guilty" over?

It seems the media wants to play prosecutor and judge in cases like this, and the public makes up it's mind base upon the media coverage.

###

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Unfortunately no he won't be disbarred.

He will probably get some sanctions against him by the NC bar assc, and possibly a suspension, but beyond that there will be nothing else done.

the accused aren't even likely to sue him as the proof needed to win is so overwhelming when going after prosecutors, it's nearly impossible. This is to protect them from every non-guilty verdict they end up with. There should be a happy medium, but there isn't.

The guy purposely with held exculpatory evidence that would of seen the charges most likely dropped long ago and all he will end up with is a non-paid vacation.

Brutal.

Looks like there there is a chance he will be disbarred:

The North Carolina State Bar charged the Durham County district attorney with several violations of the state's rules of professional conduct, all tied to his handling of the lacrosse case.

{snip}



"This didn't have to happen, and the horrible consequences were entirely foreseeable," Katherine Jean, the bar official prosecuting Nifong, said during her 25-minute opening statement. "The harm done to these three young men and their families and the justice system of North Carolina is devastating."


The trial is expected to run for five days, and the hearing commission chairman promised a quick verdict. If convicted, Nifong could be disbarred.

link

[Flames09]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Are the days of "Innocent until proven guilty" over?

It seems the media wants to play prosecutor and judge in cases like this, and the public makes up it's mind base upon the media coverage.

Will this now get the same level of coverage as the initial charges? I doubt it. The majority of people who remember this incident will remember the rape allegations, not the dropping of charges. The only way this will remain in the media spotilight is if the over-zealous prosecutor is prosecuted, but almost everyone other than the falsely accused will be wanting this story buried.

Heck no it won't, we live in a world where we believe everything we hear, and Paris Hilton gets more coverage then the War.

[Regorium]

I felt so bad for them when Duke lost the national championship by 1 point.

To have NOBODY on your side, including your own school, and yet, to band together as a team with a coach that is a father of one of the players, and achieve that kind of success is truly heartening.

I hope this prosecutor gets what's coming to him.

Here was a good read from when Duke lost, just as a summary to all that they've been through:

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

[Bobblehead]

Nifong has been disbarred.

[Azure]

Good.

I hope he gets his ass thrown in jail.