Breaking: State bar finds Nifong violated ethical rules; Update: I should be disbarred, says Nifong; Update: Disbarred
posted at 4:30 pm on June 16, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Airing live now on all the cable news networks. The sentence is coming up. Prediction: Suspension of his law license for a few years, but no disbarment.
Update: The commissioner’s been reading the list of charges and verdicts for a solid 10 minutes now and the camera’s barely moved from Nifong’s stricken face. He’s getting a good, sweet, hard dose of public shame here. Nice job by the bar letting this be televised.
Update: Twenty minutes of reading the charges now. Guilty so far on 90+% of them.
Update: They’re moving to the sentencing phase now but they want to hear some witnesses first. Hopefully the end will come this afternoon.
Update: Six charges related to “dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”
Update: Bombshell — according to Fox News, Nifong has offered to surrender his law license to the state bar. Not sure why. Maybe he’s trying to head off the humiliation of a disbarment verdict, i.e., “you can’t fire me, I quit”? The Foxies are speculating that he’s showing contrition in hopes of being allowed to reapply in five years.
Update: I’m on my way out but FoxNews.com is on it.
Update: Three hours a week I leave the house. Three hours a week, and naturally those three coincide with Mike Nifong being disbarred. Sigh.
It took ‘em awhile. But it was worth it.
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One of the Duke lacrosse players’ lawyers is fighting to keep from grinning with each “The answer is yes.”
Laura on June 16, 2007 at 2:35 PM
If only this douchebag were made to twist in the wind for months on end, as he did the DLAX.
Kid from Brooklyn on June 16, 2007 at 2:36 PM
That’s because everytime the Judge states, “The answer is yes”, the lawyer’s hearing…
$$$KA-CHING$$$
$$$KA-CHING$$$
$$$KA-CHING$$$
$$$KA-CHING$$$
SilverStar830 on June 16, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Aargh! Geraldo! Why is that guy not on MSNBC?
Laura on June 16, 2007 at 2:45 PM
My sentiments exactly. Switched to CNN (!) but they’re not all over it like FOX
IrishEi on June 16, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Oh my goodness. Justice in its purest form is being served here. Is this an inspired system or what? How can this happen I mean this guy was a prosecutor. He was holding all the power. Why would a society permit this. Where is the basis in logic for this. A prosecutor being prosecuted by a prosecutor?!
sonnyspats1 on June 16, 2007 at 2:52 PM
He’ll be disbarred.
Patterico on June 16, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Patterico on June 16, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Good. To whom much is given, much is expected. The real question is how much will he make from the book deal, and with the lacrosse players/lawyers get all of it, or most of it?
Laura on June 16, 2007 at 3:10 PM
I’ll see your disbarment and raise you some criminal charges.
Kid from Brooklyn on June 16, 2007 at 3:11 PM
The absolute silence of UnReverend Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, as well as the silence of the school and the formerly vocal school employees since this whole Nifong debacle broke… is deafening.
Way to go Sharpton, Jackson, and Duke (sucks) University. Your moral fiber and strength of character is astounding.
SilverStar830 on June 16, 2007 at 3:15 PM
There should be no restraints in prosecuting him. No level of humiliation is too much for him.
Coyote D. on June 16, 2007 at 3:16 PM
The silence from the Wendy Murphy types is deafening.
Burn in Hell, Michael B. Nifong. He’s either extremely stupid for letting a mentally disturbed, if not mentally retarded, Crystal Gail Mangum take him for a ride, or you’re an evil person with no soul. I think actually he’s both!
SouthernGent on June 16, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Now they need to take the whole self-flagellation crowd in Duram, and the hate spewing professors at Duke and dump them at the nearest land fill.
Rode Werk on June 16, 2007 at 3:38 PM
What about the accuser? Is she getting a pass?
Wade on June 16, 2007 at 3:49 PM
She’s been indicted on all counts of being a serious nutbag.
benrand on June 16, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Now . . . let’s see some adverse repercussions for the hate mongering lefties in that university. They wanted these young people “tarred and feathered” without due process and reciprocity is both warranted and necessary.
rplat on June 16, 2007 at 4:01 PM
Uh, suicide, maybe? Start the watch now …
laelaps on June 16, 2007 at 4:08 PM
So – is Nifong looking at getting his lying butt sued from here to eternity?
Jackson and Sharpton? This fish has gone bad for them and they will probably never even acknowledge that it ever happened. Too many other opportunities for them to tackle. It’s like playing the lottery for them – they may lose a majority of the time, but when it hits, JACKPOT.
One wonders if Mangum will ever get her scholarship from Jackson.
As far as the Duke88 (professors and admins that demanded that the boys be summarily sentenced without trial), the only thing that could possibly cause repercussions in that group is if attendance to the University drop dramatically, and Duke is told WHY students don’t want to attend. Hit the pocketbook, then you will get action. Duke will do nothing on their own, in hopes it just fades away.
Timothy S. Carlson on June 16, 2007 at 4:11 PM
sonnyspats1 on June 16, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Still, there’s something flawed with a system that has allowed this to come here, to continue for so long, with no/hidden evidence. It’s beyond the legal system. PC will engulf us, if we give in so easily. I’m done hating him. It’s so much more than that.
Entelechy on June 16, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Update. The State Bar rep recomends disbarrment! WOW
sonnyspats1 on June 16, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Entelechy on June 16, 2007 at 4:15 PMYes you have a point and we can either assess this as a full on frontal assault on the legal system and everything it is designed to uphold or the perfect storm. Considering all the elements involved such as Nifongs reelection motives the ‘victims’ greed motive couple the New Black Panthers need of a cause to give it credibility and the two out dated morons Sharpton and Jackson and I conclude it was the perfect storm. The players probably did not conspire but grossly underestimated the backlash from the Duke students and their families and the public in general. The prosecutor must have thought he was dealing with the likes of a Jackson/Sharpton constituency. It shows his lack of wisdom. Solomon he ain’t!
sonnyspats1 on June 16, 2007 at 4:44 PM
So . . . he thinks he should be barred? That’s the first honest judgement the bum has made in a very long time.
rplat on June 16, 2007 at 4:44 PM
I turned it off when his hideous mug and horrible voice came on. Turned on my DVR copy of I Love Lucy where she and Ethel are Martians.
MUCH BETTER!!!!!
CrimsonFisted on June 16, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Absolutely. Don Imus prostrated himself for Sharpton, now WHO will Sharpton prostate himself in front of for forgiveness? Maybe he will be forced to leave his radio gig. It drives me NUTS when he is “invited” on Hannity and Colmes or any other show as some kind of “expert” or something. Except when Bernard MC whats-his-face raked him over the coals, that was good. Jackson dropped out of divinty school for crying out loud. Isn’t that fraud? To pass yourself off as a Reverend when you are not?
They both need to just go away.
CrimsonFisted on June 16, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Laura and Crimson,
I was watching the decision being read of Fox and my wife sat down to watch it with me. As soon as Geraldo was introduced she said “Arrgh – time to turn the channel” – I was already reaching for the remote…
forest on June 16, 2007 at 4:57 PM
No doubt the New Black Panthers will come to Neefong’s defense…
*crickets*
infidel4life on June 16, 2007 at 5:06 PM
Now is the time to summon up all those clips of the Left castigating the lacrosse players and take them to task for rushing to judgement. Let’s see the media go after the lefty profs at Duke like jackals on a bloody bone until they apologize. Chase it with a lawsuit against Duke for slander. Make examples of them all. Put a stake through the heart of the PC culture which birthed this horror.
Tantor on June 16, 2007 at 5:20 PM
And now he’s been disbarred.
amerpundit on June 16, 2007 at 5:25 PM
It sounds like chair person has decided to say “no, no, no, you aren’t giving the license up, we are taking it.”
Dude is ripping Nifong apart.
I wonder if Amanda Marcotte will write anything about the case now?
William Teach on June 16, 2007 at 5:30 PM
Next stop Pope-rah, the book deal, speaking engagements, rehab, a divorce, and a congressional seat for the insurance benefits. I was hoping for the WWF but it looks like Hollywood instead.
Limerick on June 16, 2007 at 5:32 PM
When Nifong released the initial report to defense attorneys in May 2006, they quickly trumpeted the news that Meehan’s lab had been unable to find a conclusive match between the accuser and any lacrosse players.
But it wasn’t until much later that the defense received the background details of the test results, which indicated there was genetic material from several males found in the accuser’s underwear and body, but none from any member of the lacrosse team.according to Fox NewsAh yes Your Honor my client is pure as the driven
snowslush! EEEEWWWWWW………..sonnyspats1 on June 16, 2007 at 5:41 PM
You ask where are Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the Duke 88 and Malik Shabazz? I think some will be out saying that this is obviously the racist, establishment State Bar covering up for the rich white kids. Al Sharpton will say, as he did with Tawana Brawley, “something definitely happened but we will never know what…”
Something along those lines.
eeyore on June 16, 2007 at 5:46 PM
That ethics chairman stuck the knife in at the start of his verdict and then proceeded to twist and twist it.
Nifong belongs in jail, I hope the DLAX players attorney’s pursue this.
Sammy316 on June 16, 2007 at 5:46 PM
Nifong. Didn’t that guy have a “D” after his name when he
raped lady justice to get re-electedran for office.All of a sudden Nixon’s Watergate Scandal doesn’t seem that bad (not that it ever was, as dirty tricks go).
fogw on June 16, 2007 at 6:30 PM
I’m sorry, but when you work for the government, you need to be held to a higher standard.
You’re damn right he should be disbarred. And he belongs in jail too. A message needs to be sent that in matters where the government has control over your very life, absolute integrity must be expected.
unamused on June 16, 2007 at 6:48 PM
In case anyone hasn’t figured it out yet…Nifgong is a Democrat. Rest assured had a Republican DA done this the whole party would have been smeared.
Durham is the typical liberal utopia where there is rampant poverty, black-on-black crime (usually gang-related), failing schools, and rampant illegal immigration with no worry whatsoever of deportation. The only thing good about Durham is that the city doesn’t cover the whole county!
SouthernGent on June 16, 2007 at 7:24 PM
Your wish is their command.
I wish I could add a word to the WIKIPEDIA.
NIFONGED: (adv.) To be relieved of the burden of your duties because you relieved yourself of the burden of a conscience.
:::DISCUSS:::
seejanemom on June 16, 2007 at 7:35 PM
Na, being Nifonged is being knowingly falsely accused and charged by a rouge prosecutor for political purposes.
TheBigOldDog on June 16, 2007 at 8:33 PM
He get a job teaching law at Duke or many, many, many other leftist law schools in major American Universities.
benrand on June 16, 2007 at 8:47 PM
Disbarred and fired?
Nice first step, but not even close to anything resembling justice.
Now, criminal charges and a civil suit resulting in damages slightly higher than the GDP of Germany, that would be justice.
Unless of course somebody here can explain to me that losing your job is sufficient punishment for destroying the reputations and lives of three people, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from them in the process, hiding exculpatory evidence and abusing your office to win an election. Just to name a few.
Misha I on June 16, 2007 at 9:03 PM
The New York Times article sure was a piece of work, wasn’t it? A couple of obigatory paragraphs on the judgement, followed by a full recitation of every good word Nifong’s lawyers could find to say about him. The wrap had to be one of the most disingenuous ever:
Ya think? I’m lookin’ at you, NYTiimes!
JM Hanes on June 16, 2007 at 9:03 PM
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. /snark
Kini on June 16, 2007 at 9:07 PM
seejanemom:
I getting Nifonged is more like being Borked. Your definition is just too good to waste though; maybe you could call the rebound: Nifanged
JM Hanes on June 16, 2007 at 9:08 PM
This really is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Most malicious prosecutions are not this blatant and not this high-profile. God help you if you’re next in the crosshairs.
infidel4life on June 16, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Of course he should be disbarred! Lucky for him, he resigned first. I am a lawyer and the process of getting Bar approval was insane. They wanted our criminal history, driving records, including speeding tickets, mental health records, rehab records, credit reports. Luckily, other than that pesky speeding ticket, I had little to report, but how do these people get into such positions of power when we start out with such high expectations of excellence???
hollygolightly on June 16, 2007 at 10:12 PM
I’ve read that the lawyers for the lacrosse players are looking toward filing criminal contempt charges next week. Good! Before he rots in hell, may he rot in prison.
Seeing as he’ll be in prison, he won’t be needing the conveniences of modern life such as a home, a bank account, an IRA, 401K, etc. Here’s hoping that these guys and their lawyers can make themselves and their future generations worth tons of money. The GDPs of a small state for each should cover their needs.
In this kind of instance, is just the prosecutor responsible, or is his office responsible? By extension, is the city of Durham, NC liable for his misconduct?
flutejpl on June 16, 2007 at 10:22 PM
A lawyer who is a dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful, egregious liar… who’da thunk it.
Alas, the worst he’ll do is probably make $10 Million on the lecture circuit and book deals. With any luck, it will all be liened to pay off his civil judgements.
SilverStar830 on June 16, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Isn’t that the basic philosophy of Law School?
infidel4life on June 16, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Now if the player’s blood suckers really wanted fresh hemoglobin they could name Duke University (”Coach K, we can no longer afford to pay you….”), the city council, the county supervisors, the State AG, hell even the Governor individually.
Only if the states you are thinking of are England, Italy, Germany……..
TwinkietheKid on June 16, 2007 at 11:43 PM
Disbarred is not enough, he should be in jail, just like he was going to put those young kids in jail. And that woman that made the false charges should be in jail too.
Maxx on June 17, 2007 at 1:05 AM
I live near Durham NC. YES YES YES YES YES!
I want CNN’s Nancy Grace to apologize. I remember she accused, convected and executed those young men in the most Bee-otchy way with total prejudice and contempt.
I want that black woman lawyer TV commentator with the bushy hair who yells when she talks (you know the one on Fox News) to apologize; she screamed about this and convicted them on TV. She should say she is sorry or NEVER show her face on TV again.
I already saw the black panther dude on O’Reilly and he is not contrite or concede their protest in Durham yelling “you are dead” to the men and convicting them in public was wrong.
I want all the Duke University and all the professors that signed their little petition condemning these men before ANY facts came out to apologize or be sanctioned by the university and community.
I hope every WOMANS STUDIES LIBIRAL ARTS Teacher brings this case up. I don’t believe the O’Reilly Bull but there is a contempt and attack on white people, especially rich white men.
I hope Knife-Fool gets his behind sued sued sued sued sued.
I hope everyone that slandered them Nancy Grace, Duck, Professors, Nifong you name it gets SUED. I don’t care if they are rich and don’t need it, a message needs to go out. I HATE LAWSUITS BUT IN THIS CASE LET THEM FLY FAST AND GO FOR THE GOLD, GO FOR THE MOON IN MONETARY DAMAGES.
They should sue the stripper to, so the pants off her. Pun intended.
Now we have to realize if these guys where poor, minorities they may have sat in jail for a year and been railroaded and forced to confess and do time. If it was not for the investigation of then defense team they would have been screwed. Lesson get in trouble BE RICH. Do you think public defenders would have done what their team did.
I will give Nifong one thing he knows he is screwed and has given up and confessed he deserves what is coming, which he looks like he will get. If he makes any MONEY off this he better give it to the three families.
gmcjetpilot on June 17, 2007 at 4:00 AM
Mr. Nifong is just a snapshot of how much absolute power these local D.A.’s and P.A.’s have in many, many counties across this nation.
It begs the question: How many Nifongs have successfully convicted innocent folks for whatever ulterior motive?
I’m sure more than a few.
Scary stuff. We need strong D.A.s, but we don’t need tyrants with unlimited power.
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 4:33 AM
P.S. Where are tre apologies from all of the witch-hunters (i.e. Jessee, Al, etc.) who were demanding these three (innocent until proven guilty) American citizens be treated to tar & feathers, or worse?
A very LOUD silence from that group, and from the Lib. Duke professors who already had them tried, convicted and sentenced in their left-tilting minds. Very telling.
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 4:46 AM
sp. tre = the. Sorry ’bout that.
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 4:48 AM
Double Overtime:
Come on in there when you’ve got something, Nonfactor, Jaherer, or anyone else who cares to opine.
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 4:52 AM
Alternate definition: To Screw innocent people for the purposes of winning a political race in a racially divided district,
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 5:03 AM
This kind of procecutorial abuse demands at least a few years of HARD time.
For one reason: Deterrence– To keep it from happening again in the future somewhere to somebody else.
Another reason: To restore some measure of faith in our judicial system.
Thank you for your attention.
hillbillyjim on June 17, 2007 at 5:08 AM
Sure, that’ll work. I was thinking something like New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, but a nation-state interpretation of “small states” sounds nice, too.
flutejpl on June 17, 2007 at 8:22 AM
Excellent!
Hoping he gets sued for millions as well.
Aylios on June 17, 2007 at 9:12 AM
My first lawsuit would be filed against the 88 Duke professors who took out that disgusting full page ad demouncing the ‘rapists’.
I’d sue them for pain and suffering out the wazoo. I might even get Silky to represent me!
Martin on June 17, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Who are you and what have you done with gmcjetpilot?
:)
RushBaby on June 17, 2007 at 11:14 AM
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