Nifong Disbarred

This is incomplete justice, but it definitely sends a very strong statement to Mike Nifong. He was disbarred by the NC State Bar yesterday.

It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Nifong lied to the court, made material misrepresentations of fact, and withheld exculpatory evidence.

In court documents and hearings in May, June and September, Nifong told two different judges that he had no more evidence that could be considered helpful to the defense. Nifong said he didn't realize the defense hadn't been given all the DNA test results until December - a suggestion Williamson found laughable.

"He knew. He admits he knew," Williamson said during Nifong attorney Dudley Witt's closing argument. "How could he not know if he had read it? How could he not know?"

Witt admitted his client made "multiple, egregious mistakes." He insisted none were made intentionally, but struggled to offer another explanation.

"It didn't click," Witt said as he tried to explain away one of Nifong's errors. "His mind is just his mind. That's the way it works. It just didn't click."

Along with accusing Nifong of withholding the DNA evidence and making misleading and inflammatory comments about the three athletes, the North Carolina State Bar said he lied to both the court and bar investigators. The committee found Nifong broke the state's rules of professional conduct more than two dozen times.

"I would say there are no winners in this scenario," said Kevin Finnerty, Collin's father. "With that said, I think there's closure. I think it's appropriate and I think it's justice.

"I think he brought it on himself."

The players' defense attorneys have pledged to seek criminal contempt charges next week in Durham from a judge who has already reminded Nifong he has the authority to impose punishment. They suggested the calls for a federal civil rights investigation were not out of line.

"I don't think any of us are done with Mr. Nifong yet," said Jim Cooney, Seligmann's attorney.

The claim that Nifong didn't make those statements or withheld information willingly is laughable. He knew what was in the file, and what he could or could not say. He ignored the rules, he ignored the law, and he ignored the rights of the defendants to the evidence - especially the part that was exculpatory and would have shown that they had nothing to do with any alleged criminal acts.

Cooney is right. They're not done with Nifong yet. The lawsuits are just getting started, and I fully expect the lawsuit to include not only Nifong, but the city of Durham, and Duke University (deep pockets after all).