Rape charges dismissed!

They’re still going to go after a couple other charges, but that is just the DA trying to save face.

News 14 Carolina reports: DURHAM, N.C. — A defense attorney says prosecutors have dropped rape charges against three Duke University lacrosse players. Charges of kidnapping and sexual offense still stand against the three players. La Shawn Barber has …

I just got to a computer tonight, my family and I are Denver Airport closing refugees, our entire Christmas vacation for two days was spent in lines at airports, but now I am safely in a nice ski resort, 500 miles from my original destination, and reading Lashawn.

I think Tatercon has hit the nail on the head. The NC Bar, by definition can not act like Nifngu, AKA make statements, they are the gate keepers, if they don’t act correctly, then no lawyer in the state can be prosecuted. For our non NC friends, relax, the long knives are out and the are sharp. I wouldn’t want to be Nifungu this holiday season, he’s dead man walking. The boys are ok they have the truth on their side.

One other point, did you all see that NBC complained to Youtube and made them remove the Nancy grace snl skit. Hmm, still have lots of other SNL skits on youtube, wonder why this one got removed?

Merry Christmas again, Kemp

Bless your heart, Kemp! Merry Christmas! – Admin

It’s a well known fact that I make the very best BBQ sauce in the world. I may live currently in Chicago, but I grew up in South Georgia and North Florida where the best BBQ in the world is from (ducks for cover).

I’d be glad to share my recipe (minus one or two significant ingredients) at any time.

I’m sure that the defense attorneys are all over this, but it’d sure be interesting to know if Mr. Nifong completed his ethics training in the most recent year.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions.

Thanks, Reb. And yes, we do have a requirement that at least one hour of our yearly 12 hours of CLE must be on an ethics topic, and at least once every three years, we’re to have an additional “three hour block” on an ethics topic. I’m not sure if there’s an easy way to see if a lawyer has completed the requirement, as in checking a web site, but I know you do get sent a strong letter and are fined if you’re short on your CLE needs. A nose thumbing at such a letter can lead to a suspension of a license.

As for the ethics class, this past year, for example, my three hour block was gotten at a seminar sponsored by our (now retired) Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism. A restoration of civility among attorneys was stressed — An example? Returning each others phone calls and advancing the ball in cases with some informal discussion and informal discovery was urged. Just think — if Nifong had returned phone calls from the Duke players’ attorneys and had been willing to sit down with those attorneys early to review the strength of exculpatory evidence, we might not be communicating now about Nifong’s handling of the case from May to the present.

‘Course, that might mean Kemp and I wouldn’t have met via LB’s Corner and traded great bottles of ‘cue sauce!! Oh, and Steve D in the border state above Dee Cee, I’m sure we can trade eastern NC barbecue for your crabcakes if you’ll drop your plans for an economic embargo of 99.987% of the TarHeels down here who aren’t like Nifong!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful next three days in the run-up to Christmas!!!

TaterCon

If you are a sophmore (junior player) and your team is having a party, you go to the party. You may not stay long, but you go. Reade Seligmann didn’t even want to attend the party, but did so in order not to appear rude. Both he and Finnerty saw the AV for about a total of five minutes, and then left.

For that, they are pilloried as immoral hooligans. Any ‘exculpatory’ behavoir–collecting the most money for Katrina relief; coaching neighborhood kids; honor roll; 100 % graduation rate; etc., seemingly all counts for nothing. They have been demonized and turned into monsters because they once stole a banner from another college and made too much noise putting out the trash.

Meanwhile the AV, who at best reports has had (or is having) 3 children out of wedlock, possibly was selling drugs at 14, uses drugs, lies to get drugs from hospital emergency rooms, lies about previous rape charges, steals a taxi and tries to run down a police officer, etc., and earns her living as a prositute ($200 an hour), is portrayed as just a poor working mother and a ‘victim’.

She was performing both in public again and in private (in the VIP room–i.e., generally thought to be rooms for sex with the customers) three days after her alleged gang rape. According to the manager of the club where she worked, she never missed a performance.

Her life was not changed by this event. She was able to continue with her normal life without interruption.

Not so the three she accused.

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate your taking the time to write a reply. I really wasn’t trying to hysterically demand an end to the trial.

Question for you. Does the NC State Bar require yearly ethics training for its members? And if so, is there an easy way to ascertain if a particular member of the bar completed that training?

Thanks.

I have a nephew who was a high school and college All-American in his sport. I asked him if his team ever celebrated with lots of liquor and a stripper. His answer was a resounding, "NO!" I wonder how many college teams and fraternities have changed party plans after this event.

On the other hand, there must be something very sinister behind the curtain that these charges are still being pursued. The accuser's story has meandered more than a new river in unglaciated territory. There is very little corroborating evidence and lots of exculpatory evidence. What gives?

Thanks for the updates, La Shawn.

Your dog won’t hunt in these woods, ‘Hawk. That’s a great and noble quote, but the NC State Bar DOES have power over some of the actors in this case — Nifong, Cheshire, Smith, Cooney et als — and cannot pronounce any opinions, as an organization, based on what its officers are seeing in the news stories — no matter how plain a truth might be marching.

Let’s shudder at this thought: What if the “truth” being derived from the newspapers was limited to the signature ad in the Durham paper by the Gang of 70 Professors, or the “investigative” stories out of the Wilmington Journal?

As impatient as some may be to see a hammer hit Nifong, waiting for the State Bar to use its hammer requires a recognition that the hammer be exercised within the constraints of a due process set up by the NC Legislature in the grant of authority.

(Of course, that sets me up to respond to Belle at 43: If a public doesn’t want the alcoholics watching … er, the lawyers watching the Bar, it’s a debate to be taken up with the legislators.
Suggest something better, more workable, less imperfect, what have you, and maybe your proposal can get some legs…..)

TaterCon

http://www.wilsonappeal.com/petition.php

This guy is already in jail, the legislature changed the law that put him there. but they, the Georgia judicial system, and the Georgia Governor all conviently forgot him and let him rot in jail. Pretty inhuman people in those organizations. All nifongs in training.

What can you expect of a department which has apparently run prostitution out of its own headquarters for over a decade; used to be given blank warrants to fill out as needed; actually lost money at police auctions (most of the take went to one or two favored individuals); has a police chief whose daughter has been arrested by Nifong and faces prison; etc.?

#41
“It can’t “speak out” now with a pronouncement of what it sees as the good and evil happening at the circus.”

Yet, as Zola wrote in “I Accuse!” :

“This is the plain truth, Mr President, and it is terrifying. It will leave an indelible stain on your presidency. I realise that you have no power over this case, that you are limited by the Constitution and your entourage. You have, nonetheless, your duty as a man, which you will recognise and fulfill.

“As for myself, I have not despaired in the least, of the triumph of right. I repeat with the most vehement conviction: truth is on the march, and nothing will stop it.”