Oh, wait. You haven’t heard about it. And why not? Well, for one thing the prosecutors in Santa Clara County in California are actually being responsible about their investigation. There is no blowhard prosecutor trying to get his face on national television. It seems the botched Duke lacrosse case has taught prosecutors across the country some lessons. As one defense lawyer said:
“I am not surprised that they are taking their time,” said defense attorney Steve Clark, a former local prosecutor. “The last thing you want to do is accuse the wrong person. It’s hard to un-ring that bell.”
And, Clark added, the high-profile rape prosecution of three Duke University lacrosse players that failed last year surely weighs on the minds of investigators and prosecutors.
The cases share some facts: Drunken revelry, college athletes, a report of rape.
“That’s the lesson of the Duke lacrosse case,” Clark said, “no one wants to rush to judgment.”
Too bad Durham DA Mike Nifong hadn’t thought of that before he launched the case that would make his name a verb.
