Durham DA Mike Nifong was indeed sworn in this morning at 8 a.m. in the Durham Judicial Building. The only problem is the building does not open to the public until 8:30 a.m. Consequently, a gaggle of upset media types were stuck outside until the ceremony was over. At 8:03 a.m. there was a bit of excitement when a deputy opened one of the doors and said, “Come on in, cameras in hand.” But he was shouted down by two other deputies who yelled, “Don’t let them in.”
At about 8:10 a.m. Sheriff Worth Hill made an appearance on the other side of the glass doors and mouthed the words, “It’s over.” Then, at 8:25 a.m., the media was let in. We rushed up to Nifong’s office on the sixth floor but he wasn’t there. We learned he was in a courtroom on the fifth floor watching judges get sworn in, so we trooped down there.
Sure enough, Nifong, his wife and son (I presume) were the only ones sitting in the audience as several judges in black robes were taking their oaths. That didn’t prevent the media from rushing up to the front and asking questions (see photo at left). The first one was why he didn’t let the public into a public ceremony. He said something about there being ceremonial swearings in, like his first one when he was appointed, and “getting back to work” swearings in, which the media don’t need the be in attendance.
He also refused to comment on the lacrosse case, the Bar Association action last week or the upcoming hearing on Feb. 5.
UPDATE: Having trouble getting YouTube to accept the video. Will continue trying. Sorry.
UPDATE: Video is now loaded. It can be seen above.
