Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
I was skeptical of the news reports that described Angela Corey, the special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, as a no-nonsense lawyer. My skepticism was rewarded amply when on April 11 I watched her announce the second degree murder charge against George Zimmerman. From the moment she stepped before the microphones, she seemed to find inordinate glee at the center of the media carnival, and indeed her demeanor throughout her presentation was ill-fitted to the occasion, as though she simply didn’t know how to strike the appropriate tone.
And now we know she wasn’t just having a bad day.
Writing at Newsmax.com, Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz reports that Corey telephoned the law school and “engage[d] in a 40-minute rant,” threatening to sue the school and file charges against Dershowitz for “libel and slander.”
It’s rare that I find myself in agreement with Mr. Dershowitz when the subject is anything other than the defense of Israel, about which he is resolute. I am still haunted by the memory of him lending his considerable talents to the O.J. Simpson defense team, which outmaneuvered prosecutors to achieve an acquittal for a man who clearly had butchered two human beings.
But on the Trayvon Martin case I am in complete accord with Mr. Dershowitz, who among others (including me) pointed out the manifest defects in the prosecutors’ affidavit used to file the murder charge against George Zimmerman. Because Mr. Dershowitz has had the crust to find fault with Ms. Corey’s apparently casual relationship with the facts in the case, evidenced by the complete omission from the affidavit any mention of evidence of self-defense that would weigh in George Zimmerman’s favor when said evidence was known to her, she seeks to silence him through a pathetic attempt at intimidation. If what Mr. Dershowitz has written is true, Ms. Corey is not merely inept, she is unhinged. And I predict she will become more so as the case against Zimmerman comes unraveled as it surely will. She might look to the example of Mike Nifong for instruction on what not to do.
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Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Jack Dunphy
Tommy De Seno:
It's clear Martin tried to run away. Zimmerman, who labeled Martin an asshole and a punk, chased after the boy against police advice. It was Martin who then rightfully took advantage of the stand your ground law, not Zimmerman.
It's not at all clear that Martin tried to run away, nor is it clear that Zimmerman chased him. · 3 minutes ago
Did you read the reports and view the photos? It's abundantly clear that Martin ran away and Zimmerman chased him.
Jul '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno: Doc,
I back Corey as to Dershowitz' comments regarding the Zimmerman affidavit. Don't know her from Eve beside's that.
I can't fathom why you call Corey "scum." · 7 minutes ago
She is scum because I can smell scum. That's why I do not dislike you even though you are misguided. Her actions represent wrongness and evil with regard to that poor black woman in fear for her life yet she upped the charges, added two extra and put her away for 20 years so she, Corey, could look good. If that is me going down like that I wait out my sentence and take her out in grand fashion. Destroying innocent people's lives for self-promotion is as bad as mass murder in my book!
Jul '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno
Jack Dunphy
Tommy De Seno:
It's clear Martin tried to run away. Zimmerman, who labeled Martin an asshole and a punk, chased after the boy against police advice. It was Martin who then rightfully took advantage of the stand your ground law, not Zimmerman.
It's not at all clear that Martin tried to run away, nor is it clear that Zimmerman chased him. · 3 minutes ago
Did you read the reports and view the photos? It's abundantly clear that Martin ran away and Zimmerman chased him. · 9 minutes ago
Oh , horse cookies to that.
Aug '10
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Corey had the option not to prosecute, or to prosecute a lesser charge. She knew the mandatory minimums were in place, and she knew they would trigger if she succeeded in her prosecution.
In other words, Corey intentionally tried to get 20 years for an abused woman who stood up to her abuser--in a non-lethal manner--under the most clear, explicitly protected situation the Stand Your Ground law covered. That qualifies her for all kinds of imprecations and character attacks in my book.
I suppose we could say she didn't know about minimum sentences. Or she subjected Alexander to prosecution thinking the jury would acquit, and went to trial just for the heck of it. Or maybe she just signs off on any case that crosses her desk. That makes her merely incompetent, or unintelligent, but no less dangerous or insidious considering the state power she wields.
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
I've never seen a case that wasn't overcharged. That's how the system works (that's not exactly a trade secret, is it?). 99% of all cases brought are pled down. How do you do that? Overcharge to begin with.
If overcharging makes a prosecutor "scum" then call all of them that.
Why do you think there are so many guilty pleas and so few trials? Only a jury knows your fate, and you don't know what they will say until they speak. Then it's too late. So the choice is usually something like this:
"Go to trial on these charges and face a 10 year prison sentence (and there is a risk you could get convicted) or plead down to this disorderly person's offense for which you'll get 1 year's probation."
Many innocent people opt for the latter to keep themselves out of a gamble they have no real way of knowing if they will win or lose.
And don't beat your chest and say you'd stand on conviction and protect your good name with a gamble on a trial unless you've been there.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 8:32pmRe: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
DocJay
Tommy De Seno
Jack Dunphy
Tommy De Seno:
It's clear Martin tried to run away. Zimmerman, who labeled Martin an asshole and a punk, chased after the boy against police advice. It was Martin who then rightfully took advantage of the stand your ground law, not Zimmerman.
It's not at all clear that Martin tried to run away, nor is it clear that Zimmerman chased him. · 3 minutes ago
Did you read the reports and view the photos? It's abundantly clear that Martin ran away and Zimmerman chased him. · 9 minutes ago
Oh , horse cookies to that. · 1 hour ago
Read the record and view the pictures. Tell me what you think after.
Jul '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno
DocJay
Tommy De Seno
Jack Dunphy
Tommy De Seno:
It's clear Martin tried to run away. Zimmerman, who labeled Martin an asshole and a punk, chased after the boy against police advice. It was Martin who then rightfully took advantage of the stand your ground law, not Zimmerman.
It's not at all clear that Martin tried to run away, nor is it clear that Zimmerman chased him. · 3 minutes ago
Did you read the reports and view the photos? It's abundantly clear that Martin ran away and Zimmerman chased him. · 9 minutes ago
Oh , horse cookies to that. · 1 hour ago
Read the record and view the pictures. Tell me what you think after. · 2 minutes ago
I have seen everything published. I'm right, I know I'm right, and when this case goes away instead of railing against the injustice of it I suggest you admit you are wrong. Time will tell but I am as firm in my convictions as you are in yours.
Jul '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno: I've never seen a case that wasn't overcharged. That's how the system works (that's not exactly a trade secret, is it?). 99% of all cases brought are pled down. How do you do that? Overcharge to begin with.
If overcharging makes a prosecutor "scum" then call all of them that.Why do you think there are so many guilty pleas and so few trials?
Many innocent people opt for the latter to keep themselves out of a gamble they have no real way of knowing if they will win or lose.
And don't beat your chest and say you'd stand on conviction and protect your good name with a gamble on a trial unless you've been there. · 8 minutes ago
Edited 6 minutes ago
I have been there and done that with my license and custody of kids on the line. I fought and won.
She is scum. Human scum. People like that should wear vests 24/7.
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
DocJay
It's clear Martin tried to run away. Zimmerman, who labeled Martin an asshole and a punk, chased after the boy against police advice. It was Martin who then rightfully took advantage of the stand your ground law, not Zimmerman.
It's not at all clear that Martin tried to run away, nor is it clear that Zimmerman chased him.
Did you read the reports and view the photos? It's abundantly clear that Martin ran away and Zimmerman chased him.
Oh , horse cookies to that.
Read the record and view the pictures. Tell me what you think after.
I have seen everything published. I'm right, I know I'm right, and when this case goes away instead of railing against the injustice of it I suggest you admit you are wrong. Time will tell but I am as firm in my convictions as you are in yours.
Much of what I anticipated in the last thread came out in the record (like Tray's state of mind that a man was following him) and what others said was disproven (like George staying with his car and Tray approaching him).
I'd ask for an apology but...
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno: I've never seen a case that wasn't overcharged. That's how the system works (that's not exactly a trade secret, is it?). 99% of all cases brought are pled down. How do you do that? Overcharge to begin with.
If overcharging makes a prosecutor "scum" then call all of them that.
Why do you think there are so many guilty pleas and so few trials? ...
Many innocent people opt for the latter to keep themselves out of a gamble they have no real way of knowing if they will win or lose.
And don't beat your chest and say you'd stand on conviction and protect your good name with a gamble on a trial unless you've been there. · 11 minutes ago
Well Tommy, you've restored my enmity toward lawyers. "That's how the system works..." ...which is why it as a legal system rather than a justice system. When an act of justice actually occurs, it's purely incidental to the process, not the intent.
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Dave Carter
Tommy De Seno: I've never seen a case that wasn't overcharged. That's how the system works (that's not exactly a trade secret, is it?). 99% of all cases brought are pled down. How do you do that? Overcharge to begin with.
If overcharging makes a prosecutor "scum" then call all of them that.
Why do you think there are so many guilty pleas and so few trials? ...
Many innocent people opt for the latter to keep themselves out of a gamble they have no real way of knowing if they will win or lose.
And don't beat your chest and say you'd stand on conviction and protect your good name with a gamble on a trial unless you've been there.
Well Tommy, you've restored my enmity toward lawyers. "That's how the system works..." ...which is why it as a legal system rather than a justice system. When an act of justice actually occurs, it's purely incidental to the process, not the intent.
If you think I'm going to disagree with you, you're wrong, although your enmity should be toward the system not the lawyers.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 8:57pmJul '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
I'll admit I was wrong if Z goes down in a fair trial.
Edited on June 9, 2012 at 3:22amApr '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy,
Do you have a link to the court records you are referencing? A quick search shows various news organizations characterizing the information, but not the source material. The secondary sources show that Mr. Martin was in Mr. Zimmerman’s neighborhood, had bruised knuckles, and Mr. Zimmerman had two black eyes and a bruised back of the head. One witness saw a black man, presumably Mr. Martin, on top of another man, presumably Mr. Zimmerman.
In any event, the issue with the State Attorney is not whether Mr. Zimmerman is innocent. The issue is she is supposed to care more about justice than she is about winning. The fact that she cannot abide criticism suggests that people critical of her will not get a fair shake from the prosecutor. Her history says she lacks judgment. Of course, the same could be said for the governor who appointed her.
Dec '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy, sorry I had a few meetings,
We have the same sequence of events. Zimmerman approached Trayvon and asked a question of. The question was heard, trayvon hung up while answering. We know they talked. Then we only have Mr. Zimmerman's testimony as to what happened next. Then witnesses saw him getting his butt kicked, and then we only have Mr. Zimmerman's testimony as to what happened to escalate it into a lethal situation.
We essentially agree on the sequence of events, but you have this idea that talking to someone is the same as initiating violence, and base this on assumed negative character. You base the assumption of negative character on "come on he has to be" innuendo.
I am not willing to live in a world where you cant talk to people on the street, which is the only thing that people can prove George did before he was getting his butt handed to him in a scuffle.
Your intuition may not be wrong, its just not provable.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 9:59pmSep '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Whoa!
The issue at hand is whether a special prosecutor, appointed by the governor in an internationally-prominent case, can be libeled. It seems to me that she qualifies as a public figure if anybody does, so Alan Dershowitz (or Jack Dunphy) could call her a snake-charming schook and (cover the ears of your young children) a New York Yankees fan to boot. All she could legally do is smile.
What seals the deal for me is the repeated instance of ranting at anyone who dares question her actions. Issue a statement to the press saying, "Alan Dershowitz is a punk loser"--but calling Harvard University and threatening to sue them?
This isn't a question of a fine point of law--and this has nothing to do with whether or not George Zimmerman was on the grassy knoll, or Trayvon Martin was the soon-to-be-revealed Dalai Lama. This is thuggery, pure and simple. The dame is a thug.
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Guru, you leave out a great deal from The record. Under your presentation George could have said, "Dear sir, what are your intentions on this Florida evening?" The record shows a far more belligerent vigilante than that. Witnesses have one chasing the other, and one even has the Hispanic on top first. Even if Tray ended up on top, that's OK. Self defense does not require defense only. Offense is allowed too. The record supports Tray landing one punch before being shot, maybe two. That could change with eyewitness testimony, but it appears to be the case now.
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
John Murdoch,
A public figure can be slandered and sue for slander. He slandered her when calling her unethical. She should sue him.
Here is another twist: If lawyer A thinks Lawyer B committed an ethics violation, lawyer A MUST file an ethics complaint against Lawyer B. If he does not, Lawyer A is guilty if an ethics violation himself. Dershowitz won't, and that's why he started backing off the rest of the interview. He was spouting off for the camera, exactly as he accused her of doing, and he went too far.
Ps - are we really all Dershowitz fans now? This case has Conservatives in a bad position.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 10:56pmDec '10
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
All this discussion about the finer points of who chased who, who started the fight, is Ms. Corey crazy as a coot, overcharges, undercharges, stand your ground will all be rendered pointless if Ms. Cory gets herself a black jury. In that instant it will be game over. All the rest will just be two more days of cable fodder. Next case.
Apr '11
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy, you weighed in on everything regarding the case and related issues, but what are your feelings about the national reaction to the shooting. Did you feel it deserved the spotlight it has received and the way it has transpired to date?
Also, why are Conservatives in a bad position, just because they have a feeling about what may have transpired?
Jun '12
Re: Ms. Corey, Meet Mr. Nifong
Tommy De Seno:
Ps - are we really all Dershowitz fans now? This case has Conservatives in a bad position. · 34 minutes ago
Edited 9 minutes ago
Conservatives can accept that people on the other side can have good ideas from time to time. It's the lefties that would kick someone out for agreeing with a conservative; see Lieberman, Joseph.
Just the other day I publicly agreed with Bill Clinton, about Romney's business record. To date, no one has demanded that I turn in my Secret Conservative Decoder Ring for that.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 11:10pm