Comments on: Cleared Duke Lacrosse Players Could Sue

Defense Attorney Roy Black Says They Should Pursue All Legal Options

[manikatt]

I have nothing wrong with Jesse giving a stripper a scholarship so that she doesn't have to strip. But since she is lied about being raped Jesse should "Strip her Scholarship!"

[gooddieh1]

Where is Jesse now? Remember "Don't strip, scholarship!" Remember? He gave the accuser a full scholarship to college! Where is Jesse now? I guess he's still too busy crucifying Imus. I have the same sentiment for Sharpton. Just how much would those two men win over the world if they would be true to the ideals they spout when it suits them. Shame on them both for their invisibility now.

[wbmcd1]

I am particulary surprised that I have not heard of a call for review of previous NiFong cases. The reason being that the manner in which he conducted himself exuded confidence in his decision making, which clearly was so very flawed as to require awareness of the extent to which he was breaking the rules. One doesn't develop that level of confidence in the face of clear miscarriage of justice on the first run suggesting that he might very well have "railroaded" others. Perhaps the question has been asked and review is in process, if not then it certainly should be asked presumably generating a review to validate that the behaviour by NiFong in the Duke LaCrosse case has not occurred in the past.

[mkj1223]

Perhaps the idea of total immunity for anything a prosecutor does as an advocate needs to be debated. Is it not possible that giving these prosecutors total immunity does as much to hinder the justice system as it does to enhance it? The prosecutors are supposed to be advocates for justice. It is not just to falsely charge anyone when the prosecutor has evidence contrary to any perceived guilt.

As to morality, many young do things they may regret later or that the parents are not proud of. However we as mere people are in no position to judge anyone elses behavior but our own.

[manikatt]

I agree. I will not defend Don Imus but I agree that black leaders should apologize for any statements which were said without evidence. Everyone should be accountable.

[franklooper]

Oh, please, can I meet SDoyle1? I've always wanted to sit at the feet of the sinless 1st-stoner.

Yup, they drank underage. Let us now jail and expel 70% of the college sophs and froshes in the country! Or, at least, let us publicly ruin the lives of all the rich young white boys who like strippers and beer!

Who's with me? :-)

[hplwas]

I sincerely hope the Duke players sue the two %u201Chonorable%u201D Reverends if for no other reason than to deny them, as Don Imus has been denied, of their privileged platform.

Don Imus%u2019s sin was not so much what he said as much as it was that he used his privileged TV platform to degrade specific individuals who, by themselves, did not have a similar platform from which to defend themselves. The society rightfully and dutifully came to their defense. It should be noted however, that his ill conceived comments were not premeditated. They were not said with anger or malice. They were not repeated. And he apologized. The only opinion that should count is that of the girls who were the targets of his ill-conceived words. They judged his apology to be sincere and accepted it.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson also used their privileged TV platform to attack the Duke University players, who by themselves also did not have a similar platform from which to defend themselves. Their attack was not just a slur; it also involved an ongoing criminal charge. Their attacks were premeditated. They were said with malice. They were often repeated of a period of months. And to date not a hint of an apology has come from either of them. Where%u2019s the outrage?

[manikatt]

There is always public outrage in my communnity when a college student who is underage dies of alcohol poisoning. He should not have been drinking like that. It is his fault he did the drinking and killed himself. It is unfortunate and should be prevented. It is easier to educate kids then to try and keep them all from drinking. Kids will get alcohol whatever you do and if they couldn't get alcohol they would get some other drugs or do something else dangerous. That is just what kids do. There has to be some point at which a kid is responsible for their own actions (ie 18). And yes there would be outrage and yes the kids friends would get in trouble. It just wouldn't be a national headline because there is no malice. The kids friends didn't force him to drink, didn't plot to have him die of alcohol poinsoning. (If they did this would be a very harsh crime)
However, here a stripper and prosecutor with malice and for self benefit hurt the lives and the finances of these students. That is much worse than any of the situations you have described. Yes it would be terrible that a kid died but it would be the kids fault as far as I am concerned unless he is under 18. He is legally an adult and needs be responsible for himself. But this is an acutal event where individuals plotted and lied in order to help themselves at the extreme expense of others. I think that the fact that they were drinking is a very minor issue.

[sdoyel1]

My question was should there be public outrage if that situation occurred?
And again, I agree. I hope that this situation puts all lawyers and prosectors on notice. Their positions are not all-powerful. The prosecutor should be held accountable to the fullest extent...and more cases like this should be brought to the public's attention.

[manikatt]

It is a different situation only because he got caught. The more prosecuters who get caught are put through the ringer, the less prosecutors will do this kind of ***. Your right besides him being caught it is no different or a case of misconduct so why should the fact that they are white and privileged exclude them from getting justice when they are wronged?
If an 18 year old ddrinks to much and dies it was his fault, he is 18 and an adult. If he was 17 then that is a different story and it would be a huge case and people would be prosecuted. Don't pretend that no trial would happen. Now your just speculating what "could have happened." As far as I know they were all 18.