Sunday, June 17, 2007

Why This is a Big Deal

The issue of District Attorney Mike Nifong being disbarred in North Carolina is a big deal. The aftermath of the Duke case leaves a huge wake.

First some things need to be said.

These young men were having a crazy party and hired strippers. Talk about poor value judgments.

Additionally, the two young women who were hired as strippers. Talk about poor value judgments.

One girl cried rape. The evidence did not back up her claim. Lack of evidence, however, did not stop Mike Nifong from charging full speed ahead to prosecute the case. It looks like it was pure politics. He prosecuted three lacrosse players from a prestigious university in the rape of a young African American woman despite the fact that there was no evidence to support the criminal charges. I suspect that he didn't like the three young men and wanted them to be guilty....but....

He broke Gil Grissom's rule. You always follow the evidence where it leads...not where you want it to go. Nifong has now been disbarred.

Here's why this is a big deal.

For one his actions caused huge consequences.

The three young men will be remembered forever as the people who were accused in this rape case. No matter what they do or where they go a cloud will be over them.

The lacrosse coach of Duke lost his job. He's now at Bryant College in Rhode Island. Bryant College is a good school in a nice area----but ever hear of it? Duke is high profile...Bryant College isn't. Talk about demotions.

But her's the worse part. An athlete will rape or sexually assault a young woman. She might not be believed. I feel for the next victim of a sexual assault from someone famous. The rush to judgment will be on her and not the defendent. Mike Nifong has cast a long shadow and created a slew of victims. One can only hope that his best career opportunities for the future include the line, "Would you like fries with that?"

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