Nifong resigns, effective immediately

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Nifong resigns, effective immediately

By AARON BEARD, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jul 2, 12:28 PM ET

DURHAM, N.C. - Disgraced prosecutor Mike Nifong submitted
a new letter of resignation Monday, agreeing to leave office
immediately.

The letter is a formality. Nifong has already been disbarred,
suspended from office and replaced by his old boss as
Durham County district attorney for his handling of the
discredited Duke lacrosse rape case. He had also submitted
a resignation letter last month that was to take effect
July 13.

Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson moved ahead last
week with an effort to remove Nifong from office under a
rarely used process established in state law. But he held
off booting Nifong from office until Monday, allowing Nifong
time to send Gov. Mike Easley a new letter of resignation.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070702/ap_on_re_us/duke_lacrosse

[DURHAM D]

1. Sadly, I understand that he will get his retirement benefits.

[pnwmom]

2. He may not need them if he's in jail, as the LAX attorneys have petitioned.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1523838/

Durham — Defense attorneys for three former Duke lacrosse players filed a motion in Durham County Superior Court Friday asking a judge to hold former District Attorney Mike Nifong in criminal contempt of court.

The 42-page motion, which alleges Nifong broke at least a dozen laws rules and court orders designed to protect due process, cites Nifong's alleged misconduct in court on Sept. 22 and Dec. 15 regarding potentially exculpatory evidence as well as misleading statements he made to the media regarding that evidence.

"Mr. Nifong engaged in a pattern of official misconduct that … included multiple material misrepresentations to multiple courts on multiple occasions," the motion said. "And it represented a continuing and ongoing violation of the multiple Constitutional, statutory, ethical and court-ordered duties imposed on Mr. Nifong in this case regarding that evidence."

Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith II issued a court filing reminding Nifong that, as the sole judge presiding over the case, he reserved the right to discipline any attorney for misconduct.

SNIP

[greenissexy]

3. Horrible to see a good man treated this way.

He spent his entire career fighting for the poor and for minorities. Because of that, the white elite has done this to him. He should have known better than to challenge them.

[varkam]

4. I understand that even good people can make mistakes.

But nonetheless, he made his choice in this instance.