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Duke D.A. Mike Nifong Resigns From Office

By Jeralyn, Section Duke Lacrosse
Posted on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 04:00:00 PM EST
Tags: Duke Lacrosse, Mike Nifong (all tags)
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Bump and Update: Embattled D.A. Mike Nifong, while testifying in his ethics trial today, announced on the stand he is going to resign.

Facing the loss of his law license, a tearful Mike Nifong said Friday he will resign as district attorney, more than a year after he obtained rape indictments against three Duke University lacrosse players who were later declared innocent by state prosecutors. "My community has suffered enough," Nifong said from the witness stand at his ethics trial on allegations that he violated rules of professional conduct in his handling of the case.

You can watch the video of his announcement here.

Why make the announcement now? Perhaps because the trial has gone really badly for him, a decision is expected tomorrow and he's hoping for suspension rather than disbarment. If he admits his mistakes and resigns, perhaps he will avoid disbarment and be able to practice law again one day.

Closing arguments and deliberations are Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Original Post Below:

Exonerated Duke Lacrosse player Reade Seligman is on the witness stand now in the ethics trial of Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.

You can watch live here.

His full 63 minutes of testimony can be viewed here.

Nifong is expected to take the stand in his defense today. Things aren't looking good for him.

Here's an AP update.

Update: 10:45 am ET: Nifong is on the stand now, same link.

Update: Links to video of Nifong's testimony are below:

Continued here.

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    Duke D.A. Mike Nifong Resigns From Office | 6 comments (6 topical)

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    Nifon's resignation is a minimal start. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Rick B on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 07:04:58 PM EST
    OK.
    So Nifong is going to resign.

    But he still needs to lose his law license. An Assistant District Attorney might just get a five year (or whatever is appropriate) suspension, but Mike Nifong is the guy elected to be responsible for such decisions. Even if he had had the inkling of a case, he still stepped far, far over the line with his efforts to try the case in the media. He blew it really badly, and should never again be an attorney. In addition, civil lawsuits are certain. But they will never be enough.

    In addition, there needs to be a really good study to determine why the most significant actions were performed. What decisions by what people determined each major action, and why were those decisions so far from the ones that would have been ethical?

    Yeah, I admit it. I'd swap my soul to be part of the team doing that study. The psychology and sociology of that kind of decision-making and its implementation fascinate me. Unfortunately, they'll probably have lawyers do the investigation, not management scientists. Lawyers have the wrong skill-set. The courts will handle the legal issues, but the big issues remaining will be those of how the decisions were made. Those are sociological and psychological. That's where the paydirt will come from.

    I would chalk this one ... (none / 0) (#1)
    by narius on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 05:02:31 PM EST
    up to the system works (a bit slow) finally. Innocent players got their reputation back. Stupid DA lost his job and may be more.

    I am sure the all the civil suits are coming soon.

    Didn't the grand jury hand down an (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 05:18:02 PM EST
    indictment?  Hartmann should shield the elected D.A. from section 1983 liability.  

    [ Parent ]
    Goodbye Allie... (none / 0) (#2)
    by desertswine on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 05:12:02 PM EST


    You should watch the video (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 05:50:22 PM EST
    of his resignation. It's really something.

    I've been watching him under questioning... (none / 0) (#6)
    by Aaron on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 07:36:27 PM EST
    ...on CNN's pipeline. He was squirming pretty good when they were asking him about the lies he told, claiming that they were unintentional.

    Yes, whenever I lie and get caught it's always unintentional.  :-)

    It's kind of nice to watch a prosecutor sweat in the witness box for change, he was drinking a lot of water.  

    Duke D.A. Mike Nifong Resigns From Office | 6 comments (6 topical)

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