Mike Nifong

Mike Nifong is the former District Attorney for Durham County, North Carolina. The North Carolina State Bar voted unanimously in 2007 to disbar Nifong for his role in the attempted prosecution of three Duke University lacrosse players. Nifong resigned from office soon after his disbarment.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: September 14, 1950
2. Birthplace: Wilmington, North Carolina
3. Position: District Attorney for Durham County, North Carolina
4. Party: Democratic
5. Assumed Office: April 27, 2005
6. Disbarred: June 16, 2007
7. Resigned: July 2, 2007

The Duke Rape Case

Nifong's disbarment stemmed from his role in handling the case against three Duke University lacrosse players who were accused of rape and sexual assault by Crystal Gail Mangum, an exotic dancer. Mangum claimed that she had been assaulted in a bathroom at an off-campus party by three players.

Reasons for Disbarment

When Nifong asked Mangum to identify from a lineup the players who had assaulted her, he only showed her photos of members of the lacrosse team.¹ In addition, after DNA samples from members of the team failed to match any samples gathered from Mangum the night of the alleged rape, Nifong withheld evidence from the defense that could have exonerated the players and cast doubt on Mangum's credibility.¹ Furthermore, Nifong was up for re-election while the rape case was developing, and many observers conjectured that his aggressive prosecution of the players was an attempt to win the African-American vote in Durham County.¹

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