Does anyone else think it is odd that DA Nifong in the Duke lacrosse team rape case is being made an example?

Question

I am concerned about all the media attention surrounding the disbarring of DA Nifong in the Duke Lacrosse Team rape case. From all the articles I have been reading, there have actually been many accounts of misconduct by Duke students other than this case. It doesn't surprise me that as a DA, whether the rape account was accurate or not, that he would try the case to the fullest extent. There also appears to be other witnesses after the alleged event that noted behaviorism that could conclude that the rape indeed took place.
What is worriesome to me is the fact that the DA who tried the case is being made a public example. Whether the young woman suffered the traumatic event, or was money hungry and lied about the event, the idea that the DA is being made an example is peculiar. Does anyone else feel that this might be a scare tactic from an agenda to scare off prosecutors from taking on cases where a black woman has been raped?

Answer 1

I think it has more to do with the fact that there was so much media exposure, so there has to be more drama when the whole country is watching. In my area (northeastern Illinois), there have been many cases of prosecutorial misconduct that did not result in the prosecutor getting disbarred or forced to resign. In fact, they dragged on for years, until they were really forgotten and no one could really tell you what happened. Or the person involved had left office and gone on to be a judge or other public official and faced no consequences.
Also, disbarment proceedings, from allegation to result, usually take a span of several months to years. Never have I seen one get resolved so fast, even for lawyers in the private sector who have embezzled fortunes from their clients or employers.

Answer 2

No. Mr. Nifong's actions went so far beyond what could be considered reasonable that he should be made an example of so that other's in a similar situation will not be so bold as to totally abuse the system. Whether, or not, there are other examples of Duke students, or others, that are guilty of misconduct, is not the issue. What is at stake is the faith and reliance of the general populations reliance on the criminal justice system acting in a reasonable, fair, and objective manner to insure proper prosecution of those truly worthy of prosecution. To trample the Constitutionally mandated obligations of the criminal justice system must not be allowed. To do so jeopardizes all of us and opens the door for totalitarian actions of law enforcement and prosecutors alike.

Answer 3

That is ridiculous. The DA made a case out of nothing and IGNORED and CONCEALED evidence that showed those boys were innocent. He IS the criminal. He should be disbared and be made an example of what happens when you don't do your job honestly. He should be in prison.

Answer 4

he is the perfect example of a power hungry public servent he let his power go to his head when the real facts came out he not only ignored them but concealed them i hope he goes to jail he tried to build a reputation using what he described as rich white kids as far as discourging other black women from reporting rape that lies on the shoulders of the women who invented this story for what i'm sure was going to be a lawsuit more people who mis use their power in office should be held accountable

Answer 5

The fact that he ignored and concealed evidence pointing to their innocence is a huge miscarriage of justice. That is why he is appropriately being punished.