Duke Lacrosse Player Rape Case Prosecuter Disbarred

According to the Associated Press, Mike Nifong, the District Attorney who tried the Duke Lacrosse Players rape case was disbarred Saturday for his handling of the case. The rape case made headlines everywhere when an African American exotic dancer accused several Duke University Lacrosse team members of rape. Nifong was accused of many ethical breaches by the North Carolina State Bar Association including: withholding evidence from the defense attorneys, and lying to judges and investigators from the bar association.

The decision to disbar Nifong was made Saturday during a disciplinary hearing. According to the Associated Press, Nifong agrees with the action and does not plan to appeal the decision.

The committee found Nifong guilty of the majority of the allegations and agreed with the North Carolina State Bar Association's assessment that Nifong was guilty of "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation."

The case was embarrassing to the North Carolina legal system, due to Nifong's actions. According to the Associated Press, Nifong reportedly kept critical DNA evidence from the lacrosse players defense attorney's for over a month. The DNA tests concluded that there was DNA from several men on the victim's body and clothing, however none of it belonged to the men accused of the crime.

The panel heard testimony from Brian Meehan director of the lab that conducted the DNA tests. Meehan's testified that he had informed Nifong of the detailed test results on April 10th, 2006. Nifong had also kept this information from the presiding judge and received indictments for the players before finally revealing the evidence one week later.

Douglas Brocker, State Bar Prosecutor, claimed during the hearing that Nifong had: "charged forward toward condemnation and injustice, weaving a web of deception that has continued up through this hearing.", according to the Associated Press.

Nifong's behavior made headlines long before the State Bar association began investigating him due to comments Nifong made to reporters. According to the Associated Press Nifong reportedly stated that he wouldn't allow Durham to gain a reputation for: "a bunch of lacrosse players from Duke raping a black girl."

The disciplinary committee had the choice of suspending Nifong's law license or disbarring him; Nifong had already claimed that he would resign from his post.

According to the Associated Press Nifong's legal troubles will not end with the loss of his law license. Lawyers for the Duke Lacrosse players that were defendants in the case plan to request criminal contempt charges be brought against Nifong.

Sources:
The Associated Press, N.C. panel disbars Duke prosecutor, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070616/ap_on_re_us/duke_lacrosse;_ylt=AgFvkit6UTtVRNl6LqgUGssXIr0F,