Nifong a No-Show at Removal Hearing

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Nifong a No-Show at Removal Hearing
Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:12 AM EDT
Associated Press
By AARON BEARD Associated Press Writer

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Disgraced prosecutor Mike Nifong didn't show up Thursday at a hearing to consider his immediate removal as Durham County district attorney, a position from which is has been suspended and already pledged to resign.

But Nifong, who was disbarred for his handling of the discredited Duke lacrosse rape case, told the attorney hired to prosecute his removal that he planned to resubmit his resignation Monday, making it effective immediately.

During a brief hearing, at which no one sat at the defendant's table, Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson said he would reconvene Monday to either accept Nifong's new resignation or issue an order kicking him out of office.

"I'm not going to make a rush to judgment in a couple of days over Mr. Nifong," Hudson said. "This is going be resolved on Monday. ... There is no defense for Mr. Nifong to these proceedings. So, you don't have to guess how this is going to turn out."


Read more: http://myembarq.com/news/read.php?ps=1011&id=15231879&_LT=HOME_LARSDCCLM_UNEWS

[LisaM]

1. Do you blame him, after the media circus last time?

I have never seen anything like it. Let me try to articulate what bothers me in this case. Every day - EVERY DAY - in this country, poor people, people of color, etc. are falsely accused of crimes; many go to jail for it. Who are the prosecutors in those cases? Who even knows? Fewer probably care.

When the people falsely accused of a crime are rich white frat boys, one with a father who is a Bush pioneer, the prosecutor involved is pilloried in the public spotlight in a manner that passes all reason.

If they want to treat all prosecutors who've pursued false accusations, fine. If not, let this guy resign a little more privately.

If they want to address, globally, the issue of false accusation and prosecution, that would be a good thing. Even Paris Hilton claims she is going to work to better the lot of women prisoners (I'll have to see it to believe it, but she at least articulated the issue). Are the Duke frat boys going to go out and start working for the rights of people falsely accused?

[kay1864]

2. This is one case where the circus was justified

Nifong stepped WAYYY over the line. And not to zealously prosecute, but rather to further his own political career. He used this case to get black votes to get re-elected.

He deserved every wattage of the spotlight.

[Mike Daniels]

3. Boo Friggin Hoo for Nifong

Regardless of what's happened (or not happened) to other prosecutors Nifong still engaged in unethical behavior and deserves whatever comes with it. That he engaged in unethical behavior to win an election makes him even more contemptible.

If that means being publicly humiliated too damn bad for him.

[bluestateguy]

4. Who knows how many poor and black people Nifong has railroaded?

Which is all the more reason why he should be punished, to stop him from doing something like this again to people who don't have the resources that the Duke players have.

As a side note, I think all of the cases Nifong prosecuted should now come under review. We need find out if he may have sent some people to jail who did not deserve it.

[bluestateguy]

5. He's out looking for a new job

[kay1864]

6. Hee! I can't wait.

That's one thing I worried about, that he would lose his job but keep his law license--and then join a private law firm.

Now, of course, he's fully qualified for "Would you like fries with that?"

[LisaM]

7. Well if the Duke frat boys want to start working for social justice

I'll have more sympathy for them. I know, I know, they were wrongly accused, wrongly prosecuted. I KNOW. It's terrible. But this is a larger issue, it goes on in this country EVERY DAY and if they want me to care more about them, then I think they should address that issue. Prosecutors are out of control; a lot of them pursue cases they think will make them popular with their voters.

I am having trouble expressing this, but what bothers me about this case is that everyone treats it like an isolated case of wrongful prosecution. This is an endemic issue and should be starting a conversation, not the privilege of rich white college kids alone.

[kay1864]

8. They deserve our sympathy

whether they start working for social justice or not.

Presumed guilty, suspended, etc., etc.

I hope they win lots of $$ from Nifong in their civil case.

[originalpckelly]

9. First they were rich white kids who thought they could rape someone...

now they're rich white kids who are lucky to be the few who are falsely accused and make it.

Why does this have anything to do with their economic background or skin color? If anything, I'd suggest that our stereotypes are probably one of the reasons these guys were railroaded for so long.

If I said they were poor black guys who thought they could get away with rape, no one would stand for that. And when they were finally exonerated, I don't think they'd be asked to spend their lives doing something like that.

[LisaM]

10. I'm not actually trying to defend the prosecutor

But of all the hundreds, or more likely thousands, of cases of false accusation that occur each year, this one, where the targets were rich white guys, was able to take advantage of due process and have the charges overturned. That privilege is not afforded to everyone. People who care so much about this case really ought to train their vision on some of the others, where the victims don't have the wherewithal or curb appeal, if you will, to get anyone else to care about it.

[LisaL]

12. Take advantage of due process?

How did they manage to do that?
Why do you think Nifong was disbarred?
LOL.

[LisaM]

13. I think Nifong should be disbarred

But they need to go after prosecutors who wrongly accuse poor black people of crimes they didn't commit.

[NaturalHigh]

11. I doubt if they care about your "sympathy"...

one way or the other. They were railroaded by a corrupt prosecutor and a lying accuser. That's all that matters in this case. Mike Nifong and Crystal Mangum should both be doing hard time.