After the media was finally allowed to enter the Durham County Judicial Building at 8:25 this morning, they found Durham DA Mike Nifong in a fifth floor courtroom watching several judges get sworn in. Below is a brief video (3:08) of the morning’s escapade surrounding the non-public swearing-in ceremony. Some interesting comments that I hadn’t heard from my vantage point this morning (those pesky judges getting sworn in were drowning out Nifong):
At the 1:41 mark: Nifong discusses the future and his coming term.
At the 2:00 mark: The DA says Durham needs some healing and that “I need to be part of that healing process.”
At the 2:34 mark: When asked if he was part of the problem that required the healing, he responded: “I feel I have assisted in revealing the problem.”
UPDATE: Is it just me or does that last comment on the video leave the recusal door open?
OBSERVATION: I can’t believe Judge Orlando Hudson, who was swearing in judges when the media barged in the courtroom to confront Nifong, didn’t bang his gavel and say, “All of you, shut up or get out of this courtroom! NOW!” He just let the impromptu press conference continue as he sat up on the bench and the judges cooled their heels. Interesting.
