The Duke Lacrosse Case, Innocence, and False Identifications: A Fundamental Failure to 'Do Justice'

77 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2007 Last revised: 3 Oct 2012

See all articles by Robert P. Mosteller

Robert P. Mosteller

University of North Carolina School of Law

Abstract

The Duke lacrosse case was a disaster - a caricature. The case, which involved false rape charges against three Duke University lacrosse players, began with gang rape allegations by an exotic dancer at a team party in March 2006 and ended with the declaration of their innocence in April 2007 and the disbarment of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong in June of that year. Often a full examination of the facts of a notorious case reveals that events were ambiguous and the reality is not as bad as early reports suggested. This case does not fit that pattern; it gets worse on inspection.

For a later article on this topic by the author see: Exculpatory Evidence, Ethics, and the Road to the Disbarment of Mike Nifong: The Critical Importance of Full Open-File Discovery, 15 GEO. MASON L. REV. 257 (2008), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract_id=1088463.

Suggested Citation

Mosteller, Robert P., The Duke Lacrosse Case, Innocence, and False Identifications: A Fundamental Failure to 'Do Justice'. Fordham Law Review Vol. 76, 2007, Duke Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 176, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1070123

Robert P. Mosteller (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina School of Law ( email )

Van Hecke-Wettach Hall, 160 Ridge Road
CB #3380
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3380
United States

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