Durham’s Double Standard
Ari Kaufman penned this thoughtful article about the Duke rape case in Durham, North Carolina, where District Attorney Mike Nifong now appears to be the only criminal in the case.
Prosecutors like Nifong have no problem prosecuting factually innocent defendants. The problem is that prosecutors often rely on conviction rates as evidence of their effectiveness. But while cops who plant evidence and violate civil rights can be sued, fired, or incarcerated, prosecutors rarely endure a bad comment from fellow lawyers who pretend to supervise them at the State Bar.
Prosecutors argue that they cannot perform their duties without these legal protections. I disagree. Cops perform their duties every day knowing that they could be prosecuted for using excessive force or violating someone’s civil rights. Why aren’t prosecutors be held to the same standard?
I don’t know if the Duke players are guilty or innocent, but if the witnesses’ statements are true, the prosecutor has more than enough evidence to drop the charges. And if Nifong concealed exculpatory evidence to make his case stronger, it suggests malpractice tantamount to planting evidence.
Cops who manipulate evidence to prosecute the factually innocent are fired. Prosecutors who do the same thing are protected. Why do they need the double standard? Aren’t there enough morally-coherent lawyers who don’t need these kinds of protections?
Oops! I think my question just answered itself…
UPDATE:
LaShawn Barber: “Duke Rape Case: That Motion!”
June 12th, 2006 at 9:50 am
What we need is a vigilante militia to try and execute upon conviction these out-of-control prosecutors.
June 12th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Duke Rape Case: That Motion!
If you’re following the Duke rape case and haven’t read the latest defense motion, you’re missing out. It’s filled with all sorts of interesting tidbits. One wonders why in the world Mike Nifong would risk his reputation and di…
June 12th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
This lecture by Minister Eric Muhammad speaks powerfully to the issue of illegal immigration and reveals what it truly means to both Blacks and whites in this country. It also speaks powerfully to the issues surrounding the Duke rape case and the Cynthia Mckinney incident.
It has been removed by THE WHITE MAN due to, we assume, the number of people downloading it and complaints concerning it. We do not know how long it will take for them to delete it again. Get it while you can.
THE BLACK…WHITE…PROBLEM IN AMERICA 4/16/06
THIS LECTURE IS 5.90MB IN SIZE. WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET, IT WILL TAKE ONLY SECONDS TO DOWNLOAD. WITH DIAL-UP IT COULD TAKE UP TO AN HOUR.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BEGIN DOWNLOAD.
http://www.zshare.net/download/the-black-white-problem-in-america-4-16-06-wma.html
MUHAMMAD’S TEMPLE # 15
ATLANTA, GA.