Where are the Heros? Ethics Trial for Nifong Begins for Former Duke LAX Rape Prosecutor … Former Duke Coach Releases Book

From Duke Lacrosse rape case to ethics charges … what a disaster.

Who would have thought at the outset of the Duke Lacrosse rape story that the final day in court would be the Prosecutor being prosecuted? Sadly, that is what occurs today as Nifong faces ethics charges that could result in his disbarment. Mike Nifong is being brought up on ethics charges for his conduct during the Duke Lacrosse rape case. What will be the outcome, disbarment or business as usual?

In a case where there are so very few hero’s as even those they were not guilty of rape or who claim they  are victims  were guilty of behaving badly. Opportunist and former Duke Lacrosse coach, Mike Pressler, releases his book  “It’s Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case and the Lives It Shattered,” at the same time that the Nifong trial begins. Before Pressler gets on his soap box, acts all high and mighty and further exploits this story for his monetary gain I would ask him to answer one question.

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DA Mike Nifong Heads to Court on Tuesday on Ethics Charges from The Duke Lacrosse Rape Case

This coming Tuesday, DA Mike Nifong heads to court to stand trial on ethics charges stemming from the Duke University Lacrosse Rape case scandal. Mike Nifong faces the NC State Bar this coming week to save his reputation and his ability to practice law. Nifong’s reputation has certainly been tarnished as we would later learn all of the mis-steps and ethically challenged decisions that he made as the Duke Lacrosse rape case crumpled before our very eyes. The question does remain though, will the NC State Bar just gloss over Nifong’s actions as State Bar’s have done all too often in the past? Will they protect one of their own and just give a slap on the wrist, if anything? Or will they actually serve the public and make an example out of Nifong and his actions? We shall see.

… the Durham County district attorney will stand trial on ethics charges ranging from lying to the court to withholding potentially exculpatory evidence.

“On one hand, he’s very anxious to go ahead and have the hearing so he can present the evidence about the allegations against him,” said David Freedman, one of Nifong’s two attorneys. “On the other hand, it’s an extremely stressful situation for any lawyer to go through, especially at this level and profile.”

If Nifong is acquitted, the case will have still taken a devastating toll on the career public servant who joined the Durham County prosecutor’s office as a volunteer in 1978 after graduating from law school. He is all but assured to be remembered for pursuing a deeply flawed case with unyielding vigor while portraying himself as a crusader against privilege and racism at an elite private university. (Winston-Salem Journal)

North Carolina State Bar: Nifong Trial

The trial of the disciplinary action brought by the NC State Bar against Michael B. Nifong relating to his conduct in the Duke lacrosse case will be held in the courtroom of the North Carolina Court of Appeals (One West Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC) beginning on Tuesday morning, June 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

Hearing on Nifong a test for State Bar

The N.C. State Bar, the state agency that licenses and disciplines lawyers, will be on a symbolic trial for its own spotty history of effective oversight.

“I hope everybody is watching the State Bar,” said state Sen. Tony Rand, a lawyer and the Fayetteville Democrat who is the Senate majority leader. “It’s exceedingly important that they believe the agency that regulates the practicing bar is serious about ethical and misconduct cases.”

The State Bar has disbarred about 170 lawyers since 1996. But never has an N.C. prosecutor been deprived of the ability to practice law, even for a single day, because of prosecutorial misconduct. (The Charlotte Observer)

Duke Lacrosse Loses National Championship Game to Johns Hopkins as Fallen Dukie James Regan Honored

Duke Lacrosse may have lost this afternoon, but their was more gained in defeat. As the MSM focused on the Duke – Johns Hopkins match up to proclaim a story book finish, a greater and more special story took place in Long Island, NY.  Sgt. Jimmy Regan, 26, who joined the armed services following 9–11 was honored. A true American hero.

American Legion Post 304 Announces Parade Plans

LI school honors hero alum

The brass bell tolled 37 times — once for each of the Special Operations soldiers who died in Iraq during the past year — after their names were added to a memorial wall at Fort Bragg.

One soldier honored at Thursday’s ceremony was Sgt. Jimmy Regan, 26, a 2002 Duke University economics graduate and lacrosse player from Manhasset, N.Y.

“It’s a special day. It’s very good closure for the family,” said his father, James Regan. “He was raised a patriot.” (Fox)

This type of selfless service is was is praised today and should never be forgotten the other 364 days of the year. Let us never forget what is truly important. It is not sporting events or those that the media wishes to make heros of even though they are partially at fault for their circumstances. It is about true heros … like Jimmy Regan. Duke alumni and all Americans can be proud of a guy like this. God bless and thank you for your service.

The younger Regan served double tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and several other medals. He was killed by a roadside bomb on Feb. 9. (NewsDay)

This afternoon in the 2007 NCAA Lacrosse championship game Duke lost 12–11 to perennial power house Johns Hopkins. In a way I am happy that this outcome was not the “story book” ending that the MSM so wanted for a couple of reasons. One, many in the MSM have forgotten that although Duke and its players were handed a raw deal from DA Nifong, they were guilty of behaving badly. Duke lacrosse had quite the reputation on campus which made it more than possible in many students minds that they false allegations made could be true. Also, the fact that even though there was under age drinking and the hiring of strippers, former coach Mike Pressler did nothing to suspend or sanction players.

However, the reason why I am happy that Duke lost is that its players will have learned a greater lesson than in victory. The Duke second have comeback from a 10–4 halftime deficit to tie the game at 11 was a true gut check and character builder. Duke and all their supporters should be proud of the effort put forth by the Blue Devils.  It is a proven fact that greater lessons are learned in loss than they are in victory. The lesson learned is carved in granite because of bitter emotional loss.

A Duke victory would have meant another MSM circus doing interviews with players and coaches that this some how meant vindication for what they had all gone through. Forgetting the fact that the Duke program was not completely innocent. The false allegation charges against Duke lacrosse acted as a wake up call to get their act in order and straighten up. Trust me Duke … you earned more respect today in loss than you would have in any victory.

North Carolina AG to Drop Charges in Duke Lacrosse Case

As anticipated, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will drop all charges against the three Duke Lacrosse players. This ordeal looks like it is finally over; however, this case did not have a chance for quite some time. It was all a matter of how to end it. Now we look to the future for the law suits filed by the accused.

The three players, Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty, were facing charges of first degree kidnapping and first degree forcible sexual offense. The charges stem from an off-campus party on the night of March 13, 2006.

Special prosecutors from the Attorney General’s office took over the case after Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong recused himself in January, citing charges of unethical conduct filed against him by the North Carolina Bar. Since then, Jim Coman and Mary Winstead have examined the case from scratch, interviewing key witnesses and working through reams of evidence.

The reasons that will be cited for the dismissal are not yet known, though the case has been riddled with criticism and colored by controversy since its early months. Defense attorneys released documents showing the accuser changed key details of her story in the weeks and months after the alleged assault. (ABC News)

What a travesty of justice this case was for both rape victims and the accused for the future. Nifong should be ashamed of himself. Nifong has harmed both victims and accused in rape cases for the future. All in what can only be seen as on all appearances as for political reasons. What a mess.

Decision in Duke lacrosse case awaited

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  - Three members of Duke University’s lacrosse team could learn as early as Wednesday whether state prosecutors will drop the remaining charges accusing them of sexually assaulting a stripper at a team party more than a year ago.

Red State: “Where do I go to get my reputation back?”

UPDATE I: Prosecutors Drop Charges in Duke Case

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Prosecutors dropped all charges Wednesday against the three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper at a party, saying the athletes were innocent victims of a “tragic rush to accuse” by an overreaching district attorney.

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Attorney General Roy Cooper, whose office took over the case in January after District Attorney Mike Nifong was accused of ethics violations in his handling of it, announced Wednesday afternoon that case shows clearly insufficient evidence.

“The result is these cases are over,” Cooper said.

Barack Obama Asks for Federal Investigation into Duke Lacrosse DA Nifong

Barack, what took you so long? Did the polling come back that it was a political winner to ask for an investigation into Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong? Its about time, its not like the Duke Lacrosse rape case has been spiralling out of control for months. Welcome to the party pal, better late than never.

Another voice has joined the call for a federal investigation into the handling of the Duke Lacrosse case — this one with the punch of presidential politics.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a written response to a constituent, said that an “independent inquiry is needed” into the conduct of Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.

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