Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

N.C. Bar files complaint against DA Nifong
From Staff Reports
The Chronicle (Duke)
12/29/2006

(U-WIRE) DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina State Bar has filed a complaint against Durham, N.C., District Attorney Mike Nifong.

In the complaint, the Bar argues Nifong violated four rules of professional conduct for several of his pre-trial comments about the Duke lacrosse case.

The State Bar opened a grievance against Nifong March 30 and the Bar's Grievance Committee found reasonable cause to charge him Oct. 19. The complaint refers only to comments Nifong made in the days immediately following the incident.

If Nifong is found guilty of this complaint, possible punishments range from issuing a letter of warning to disbarring Nifong.

John Burness, vice president for public affairs and government relations, released a statement in response to the news that a complaint had been filed against Nifong.

"This afternoon's announcement from the North Carolina State Bar makes all the more appropriate, as President Brodhead said last week, that 'The district attorney should now put this case in the hands of an independent party, who can restore confidence in the fairness of the process,'" Burness said.

The Associated Press could not reach Nifong for comment.

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