Nifong Hearing

[mholtz]

From what I've heard on TV, he's immune up until he steps outside the court room. When holding a press conference he made inflamatory and libelous statements. He may be held accountable in a civil suit for things he said outside the courtroom.

[Sonny]

Apparently Nancy Grace apologized a few days ago, saying she got swept up

Note the passive tone ---> uncontrollable forces acted upon her. Upshot: It's not really her fault.

Think the 3 players have a basis for moving forward with a lawsuit against Nancy Grace/CNN?

Read this article:
Lawsuit Against CNN, Grace in Florida Missing Boy Case to Be Tried Federal Court, Judge Rules

[Sonny]

What would be the point of immunity if it had a clause that said "if you are really really bad, then you get in trouble"? Immunity is immunity. There is no civil procedure that goes around that. And then you throw in how much he makes...

Yes, they may have a case against the county or the state, but that would be a tough battle.

"criminal contempt of court" is the legal phrase that pays today.

Embattled Duke Rape Case Prosecutor Mike Nifong Could Get Jail Time:
http://www.collegelax.us/news.php?action=fullnews&id=1408

[StrykerFSU]

Lots of Prosecutors Go Too Far. Most Get Away With It.

By Jonathan Turley
Sunday, June 24, 2007; Page B03

It was an extraordinary scene when Michael B. Nifong, the district attorney in Durham, N.C., took the stand to defend his law license after his failed crusade to convict innocent Duke University lacrosse players of gang rape. He had no more success with his own defense. After being disbarred for "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation," he was suspended from his job last week and now faces a possible lawsuit in civil court.

What's most remarkable about the whole scene, though, is how rare it is. Nifong's misconduct was hardly unusual: Some of the most high-profile cases in history have involved strikingly similar acts of prosecutorial abuse. But instead of being punished, the worst violators are often lionized for their aggressive styles -- maybe even rewarded with a cable television show...

...Consider the career of Nancy Grace. Before becoming a CNN and Court TV anchor, she was a notorious prosecutor in Alabama. In a blistering 2005 federal appeals opinion, Judge William H. Pryor Jr., a conservative former Alabama attorney general, found that Grace had "played fast and loose" with core ethical rules in a 1990 triple-murder case. Like Nifong, Grace was accused of not disclosing critical evidence (the existence of other suspects) as well as knowingly permitting a detective to testify falsely under oath. The Georgia Supreme Court also reprimanded her for withholding evidence and for making improper statements in a 1997 arson and murder case. The court overturned the conviction in that case and found that Grace's behavior "demonstrated her disregard of the notions of due process and fairness and was inexcusable." She faced similar claims in other cases.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201654.html?hpid=opinionsbox2

[SDSULAX]

That makes my day. That explains a lot of things with her.

[StrykerFSU]

Disgraced former prosecutor Mike Nifong acknowledged Thursday there is "no credible evidence" that three Duke lacrosse players committed any of the crimes he accused them of more than a year ago, offering for the first time a complete and unqualified apology.

"We all need to heal," Nifong said. "It is my hope we can start this process today."

Nifong's apology came as a judge began considering whether to hold the former Durham County district attorney in criminal contempt of court for his handling of the case.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2949847

"We all need to heal"...OOOOOOOhhhhh, well in that case...

[BigheadTodd]

I used this excuse once....And I do not think I am the only one.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08162007/news/nationalnews/duke_da___dog_ate_my_law_license_nationalnews_andy_soltis.htm