Author William Newmiller.
This is his Blog Heading:
Bearing False Witness
Wrongful convictions: researchers estimate 130,000 to 260,000 American inmates did not commit the crime they've been convicted of. My son is one of them, convicted of murder despite exculpatory evidence. This blog is dedicated to exonerating him and others by raising our national awareness of wrongful convictions..
Here is the post:
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Will Mike Nifong Pay the Piper?
Disgraced and now disbarred, Mike Nifong, the nefarious prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse case, may (and should) face further sanctions. USA Today reports he may face a criminal investigation. About time. The real scandal, though is how many prosecutors never face consequences for violating the public trust. Bill Peterson, the Ada, Oklahoma, district attorney exposed in John Grisham's book Innocent Man, continues to practice law as the District Attorney in Ada, even though he admits to his role in sentencing an innocent man to death. On his web site, Peterson says, "I cannot change the reality that two men were convicted of a crime they did not commit." He neglects to say that had he exercised a bit of diligence and common sense while representing the people of Oklahoma, he could have prevented the wrongful conviction in the first place. The cavalier arrogance of prosecutors more concerned with the appearance of justice rather than the pursuit of justice is, simply, against the law. Prosecutors, as representatives of the people, are charged with seeking truth and justice rather than simply convictions. When their ethical compass becomes obscured by ambition, a polictical agenda, or just mean-spiritedness, they need to face consequences. They need to pay the piper.
I also thought this was great to share.
From Charlotte Observer Aug.3
By David Ingram and Mark Johnson
Remove judges or DAs: It might be called the "Mike Nifong Act" after the disgraced Durham district attorney, because this legislation provides for removing judges or district attorneys who are stripped of their law license.
1 comment:
I share in your concern about "injustice" in the justice system, however, I strongly recommend that you visit the web site: www.justice4nifong.com. Unfortunately, media types have distorted the real issues associated with the Duke Lacrosse case. For example, are you aware that Mr. Nifong is the only prosecutor to be disbarred by the North Carolina State Bar since its inception? There are countless stories of innocent men in North Carolina spending years in prison due to prosecutors destroying, withholding, and fabricating evidence. Actions which are far more egregious than what Mr. Nifong is accused of doing in the Duke Lacrosse case. I am not making this up. The web site has an article by UNC law professor Rich Rosen which tells of another case of injustice that, like many other cases where the defendants are poor, of color, or disenfranchised, do not get media coverage. No one knows the names of those prosecutors. If you are fair-minded and objective, I believe that after reviewing the web site, you might even consider working with the "Committee on Justice for Mike Nifong" to see that North Carolina State Bar re-instates his license to practice law. Sid Harr
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