Saturday, June 16, 2007

Bar's Closing Statements, Continued

Brocker: Nifong repeatedly trampled on constitutional rights with his public statements. These rights and requirements "must have been known" to Nifong, as a career prosecutor.

"Unprecedented local, state, and national media barrage" critical to determining Nifong's intent.

"Most egregious example" was Nifong's rumination that the players would only need attorneys if they were guilty.

"Another good reason to hire an attorney is if you're afraid of being unjustly charged."

Important to remember that Nifong's own court order identified that the players were suspects--"disingenuous" to then say they weren't suspects regarding his improper judicial statements.

Nifong argument: seeking information. This claim is absurd--how would making disparaging statements about the lacrosse players do anything to get more information?

Nifong's expressing opinion that a crime occurred improper because it never mentioned the presumption of innocence.

One thing that is insightful into Nifong's motives in making these statements is that not once in any of his statements does he ever use the word "alleged."

Brocker quotes from late March article with Brodhead, two students, and even state NAACP said saying that accusations aren't proven, but Nifong making no such qualifications.

Nifong, in testimony, admitted that in part goal was to increase public condemnation, in hopes of getting people to come forward.

"You could not have a worse example of heightening public condemnation of the accused" than Reade Seligmann receiving a death threat at the court--in same hearing that Nifong openly laughed at Seligmann's alibi.

Extrajudicial statements effectively nullified defendants' right to silence and presumption of innocence.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

You hyocrites are prematurely convicting Nifong! He is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Michael said...

re: 9:30

Do you think that Cooper is going to come to Nifong's rescue?

Anonymous said...

Couldn't they find a better bar rep than this stumbler Brocker???

Anonymous said...

To the person who posted tax value of Nifong home and wondered why it was valued so low.

Lower value=lower taxes. Just another perk for the Minister of Justice. More back room deals and good ole boys looking out for each other. Anyone have a better explanation?

Anonymous said...

Yes, but us hypocrites have real proof, as opposed to mikeys made up crap.

Anonymous said...

It depends how long he's lived in it. My house is rated on its vlaue when I bought it 11 years ago, not what it's worth now.

I'll give him a pass on this unless something else comes up.

Anonymous said...

I think Brocker is doing well. Not flashy but hitting all key points.

Anonymous said...

Brocker is beginning to warm up.

Anonymous said...

It is great to see a time line of what he said and when, and what he knew and when.
Now all his statements are showing what a dishonest piece of crap he is.

I wish the prosecutor was speaking alittle more from memory and less from notes he's reading..His pauses are breaking up his momentum.

Anonymous said...

new thread

Anonymous said...

I think we are a bit too used to seeing actors playing lawyers rather than real lawyers.

Anonymous said...

930... at first I thought you may be crystal.. but your obvious lack of intelligence convinces me.. so, has old jesse paid you yet?

Anonymous said...

hey cy, how ya' doin? I am impressed... blogging and no one sees you! that's right defend your man... after all, you do need the money... oh, and btw, it's hyPocrite.. as for presumption of innocence... bet that is a hot topic at your house! As in.. how to avoid it for the Duke 3...

Anonymous said...

9"47 I had the same thought - in the movies, they all look like Clarence Darrow. In real life, it is not true. Brad Bannon is truly brillant and an exception. When recouperating from surgery, I watched a lot of trials on Courtv. Most of them are halting in their questioning - very few Jack McCoys.
Is there any hope, DAs will be more mindful of defendent rights in the future?

Mandelbrot's Chaos said...

It's all about the message, not the delivery of it, and Brocker did a brilliant job of presenting his arguments. One by one, he defeated Nifong's defense arguments. It isn't dramatic, but it's damned effective, and if I had to choose between the two, I'd choose effectiveness over drama any day of the week.