The return of Jay: Nifong disbarred and disgraced

Greetings. I have returned at the behest of the "kids" to assume my former role ont he site. Now that things have quieted down a bit in my life, I may be able to make a more regular return to the site. For those who don't know me, my name is Sabrina and I make up a third of the triumvirate at our brand new site. And I don't think I could have chosen a more appropriate subject to touch on today than the finale in the Mike Nifong case. If you will recall, Mr. Nifong attemtpted to prosecute three Duke University lacrosse players on charges of rape, sexual assualt, and kidnapping. What he admitted was that he did violate his ethics, and did violate the rules governing the appropriate behavior of attorneys.

District Attorney Mike Nifong will be disbarred for his disastrous prosecution of three Duke University lacrosse players falsely accused of rape, a disciplinary committee decided Saturday. Even the veteran prosecutor said the punishment was appropriate.

"This matter has been a fiasco. There's no doubt about it," said committee chairman F. Lane Williamson.

Nifong sat motionless, one hand resting over his mouth, as Williamson recounted how he engaged in dishonest and deceitful conduct. He said Nifong's early comments about the case—which included a confident proclamation that he wouldn't allow Durham to become known for "a bunch of lacrosse players from Duke raping a black girl"—were purposefully designed to boost his campaign for district attorney.

"At the time he was facing a primary, and yes, he was politically naive," Williamson said. "But we can draw no other conclusion that those initial statements he made were to further his political ambitions."

Nifong will not appeal the punishment, his lawyer said.

To be perfectly honest, there would be no chance for an appeal given his admissions to the State Bar. He admitted to hiding evidence from the defense, evidence that exonerated the accused, and used this case to win reelection in Durham, NC. These actions by a rogue prosecutor just heaps more disdain on the backs of hard-working attorneys that defend their clients relentlessly, and those attorneys that are charged with the task of prosecuting criminals in this nation.

Mike Nifong received his just rewards, and he sits as a disgraced attorney who let his personal ambitions control the events he was overseeing. He is a disgrace to his profession, and he represents a black eye to the prosecutors in North Carolina that will have to live this scandal down.

Sabrina McKinney