Justice?

Reports out of Durham, NC indicate that the prosecuting attorneys plan on dropping all charges in the Duke Lacrosse case. This after the North Carolina attorney general's office took over lead counsel duties after the local prosecutor was accused of ethics violations while handling the case (withholding evidence that would have cleared the defendants months ago so he could get his name in the paper everyday and run for office). In its wake, players, families, and some would even say an entire university community have had their names (whatever you think of Duke) dragged through the mud for the better part of a year.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no evidence that the alleged victim was raped. At the very least, there's not enough evidence for a conviction, or even the trouble of a trial to plea bargain down to a lesser charge. Does that excuse the players' behavior? I wouldn't go so far as to say that. Are the Duke Lacrosse players a bunch of cocky assholes? I haven't met any of them, but it doesn't seem like a stretch to say so. Maybe they're even douches too. Misogynists? Wouldn't surprise me. But that kind of stuff can be overcome with time.

The accused and their teammates are forever tainted by one local politician's ambition. None of them can put "Duke Lacrosse" on their resume for years. Just the term "Duke Lacrosse" has become a punchline to any night where Leno mails it in. And accusations of sexual assault? Rape? Even if they're dropped because they have no sound basis in fact, and even if there isn't a media firestorm, are impossible to distance yourself from. This isn't a traffic ticket, and it's now just one big shame for all parties involved.