Let's Try This Again--THROW OUT THE CASE!

Washington, DC (TLS). Durham, NC District Attorney Mike Nifong has asked to be removed from the Duke lacrosse case. Interestingly, this news comes only one day after the prosecutor met personally with the accuser--something which he has failed to do until very late in the process. It is also interesting that Nifong's request, which was sent to N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, comes only one day after the accuser changed her story yet again--the only thing which she can be counted upon to do consistently.

As Nifong's legal nightmare intensifies, so does the precarious situation in which the Judge in the case, the N.C. judiciary, and the state Democrat Party find themselves. Nifong's recusal only magnifies the glaring shortcomings of the entire state judicial system in North Carolina. It is clear that Nifong has no case and knew he had no case all along, in spite of his repeated assurances that he did. This means that others knew he had no case--some of whom certainly had the authority to intervene.

Thus, the removal of Nifong from the glare of the public eye and the lights of the television cameras places a near-blinding spotlight on the Judge in the case and the judicial system. They now have no Nifong to hide behind. Their gross errors in judgment and lack of integrity are now brought out into the light of day for all to see. Perhaps this is one reason why Nifong was allowed to go on so long with the hoax. There are others in high places who share in his culpability. But as long as the focus was on Nifong, these behind-the-scenes co-conspirators could escape scrutiny.

That day is gone. The spotlight is now on the Judge, the North Carolina judicial system, and members of the N.C. Democrat Party who at the very least engaged in a conspiracy of silence while a desperate prosecutor fabricated a case against three innocent young men in order to get elected to office. It is really quite that simple.

Thus, one more time the plea arises from far and wide, from defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, Judges, news commentators, pundits, politicians, and concerned citizens--THROW OUT THIS CASE!

If there is one single ounce of integrity left in the N.C. judicial system, the very next step will be throwing this case out of court entirely. And it needs to happen as soon as state government offices re-open next week.