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.
Looks like this guy may have to find another career where his talents can best be used. My prediction: he enrolls as an MDiv student at General Theological Seminary, becomes an ordained Episcopal priest, and lives out his days comfortably as chaplain and strategic advisor to a Washington law firm.
Today is a good day for real justice.
Disbarring is only a good start. True Justice will be served when this rat sits in prison.
A sad but necessary action given the egregious abuses of his office.
The more interesting thing will be to see what the liberals who made up the 88 academics will do now. So far they seem to have been very unwilling to consider any “truth” but the one they made up at the start of this whole mess. Unwillingness to face the facts and admit them seems to be a fairly universal mindset which has been apparent in the leadership of the TEC as well.
Contrary to what the news media has implied, stating that “he was only one year from receiving his 30 year pension,” he will indeed most likely still get a very good pension. (29 years on a salary of over $100,000.00 =’s a very good pension).
Meanwhile, who will repair the damage done to those “innocent” boys from Duke? Who will make repay the legal expenses they incurred? Who will provide for their futures?
Justice is NOT merely obtained a court or board decision. It is dependent on righting all of the wrong and repairing all of the damage which has been maliciously done.
Albeit [#6]: I agree that disbarring Nifong will not undo the damage he did here. Nor would executing him. No earthly court can take away all the pain caused by a wrenching wrong. But FWIW, the three students can pursue civil claims against Niforng. “Tort reform” advocates haven’t yet succeeded in abolishing civil liability. And if a court holds Nifong liable, his pension will be part of the resources from which he can pay the judgment. I suspect he’ll be paying for the rest of his life.
Ironcially, all Nifong has to do is get a legal divorce from his wife and a minimum of 50% of everything he has, including his pension, will be her’s and exempted from his accessible assets.
Of course, there is nothing barring their subsequent co-habitation, etc.. He can even sign over the house to the “ex”, hook, line and sinker, as well as his vehicles, and so on, and so on. (The “O.J.” approach to civil justice.)
We must remember that he’s a seasoned lawyer, so let’s see if there’s activity along these lines. Of course, he would have to act rather fast in order to protect his assets, however, I expect that he’ll do just that.
By the way, being barred from practicing as an attorney doesn’t necessarily inhibit his ability to teach or to serve in another law related capacity.
The sad truth is that his worse day will be much better than many people’s best day, including those he has run over with his office.