JAMES P. COONEY, III
By George MacBain
              
If there is a high profile legal case in Charlotte, chances are Jim Cooney is going to be involved! Jim is a Duke undergraduate and Virginia Law School grad employed in the Charlotte office of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge, and Rice, PLLC. Today's presentation was a not so public account of one of our state's most followed cases.
  
Jim was the attorney for Duke Lacrosse player Reade Seligmann who, with 2 other teammates, was accused of raping and kidnapping an exotic dancer at a team-mates house on March 13, 2006 punishable with up to 30 years in prison. Reade and Collin Finnerty made national news on April 18, 2006 when they were suspended from Duke after being arrested and charged with these crimes. Dave Evans was the third arrested several weeks later. Cooney and company defended these 3 receiving an innocent verdict on April 11, 2007.
  
Jim focused on 3 things that saved these boys from perhaps another outcome: First in 1997, he was a part of the NC legislators successfully passing the "open discovery file" statute. Here to fore, if a person were sentenced to life in prison, no one can view the prosecutors file. He successfully overturned death row inmate Allen Gell's sentence by having the ability to review the prosecutors file. Turns out Gell was in prison when the murder took place and did not have the resources to fight with the best lawyers and support. The system fails innocent folks that do not have these resources. Now, thanks to Jim, all NC cases allow defenders opportunity to view prosecutor files. Second, the DNA testing ordered for the exotic dancer was such a sensitive process, the testing doctor dressed in a protective suit to avoid contact. Yet, samples were compromised with his DNA….so how did 3 boys accused of rape not have any signs of their DNA show up? Third, the NC Bar was trying to decide whether to file an ethics violation against District Attorney Mike Nifong during the trial or at the end. The tie breaking vote came from the Chair of the ethics committee which removed Nifong from the case and turned it over to the NC Attorney General to review. This vote made it impossible for Nifong to continue making this trial his own personal crusade and potentially leaving the decision to a jury in this racially polarized city.
 
In North Carolina all a false accuser may receive is a misdemeanor (felony in most states). The boys decided since accuser Crystal Mangum would only get a light sentence if convicted, they would not file charges. Mike Nifong has been disbarred and has filed personal bankruptcy. This was a real travesty to so many involved. Jim's primary point is we should never take justice for granted. For justice to prevail, everyone must work in their roll very hard to get to justice in the end.
 
Head Table: Bill Barnhardt, Jim Barnhardt, David Zimmerman, Mac McCarley, Alan Barnhardt, Sadler Barnhardt;
Invocation: Will Barnhardt;
Visitors & Guests: Bill Constangy; Health & Happiness: Worth Williamson: Song: Gregg Walker; Piano: Thomas Moore: Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Todd Stevens recognized Bruce Darden and Henry Snead for their continued support of The Rotary Foundation; Warren Kean has been named to the 2008 North Carolina Super Lawyers list; Ralston Pound was recognized for his 60 years of service in the Rotary Club of Charlotte; the Peru Crew heads to Alta Cayma on the 9th. Have a fabulous trip…Erskine & Betty Harkey, Luther & Sandra Moore, Will & Elsie Barnhardt, Pender & Kathryn McElroy, and Ed & Page Kizer.
     
• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
  
Habitat for Humanity: Home will be constructed between March 6 and April 12. Those wishing to volunteer or review the schedule may do so here.  Contact Chris Kemper: christopher.kemper@lfg.com
 
Group Study Exchange: Charlotte Rotary will host the GSE team from Taiwan March 15-19. Needed: host families, entertainment opportunities, and professional appointments in the fields of Economic Development, Retail, Commercial Banking, Law and Marketing. Contact Regina Patton: rpatton@managementinsites.com
  
Host Dinners: Looking for a way to meet people in this large club - consider having dinner with 3 fellow Rotarians. Sign up and schedule available at charlotterotary.org. Hungry people needed for 2/9/08 (Steve Montgomery hosting); 3/22/08 (Luther Moore hosting); 4/26 (David Zimmerman hosting); 5/3 (Lee & John Tabor hosting at their lake home); 5/10 (Ed Kizer hosting); 5/17 (Ken Poe hosting). Contact Chip Scholz: chip@scholzandassociates.com
  
CART Fund Benefit: Tickets on sale in the Rotary office for the Bobcats VS Hawks game on March 7. Proceeds benefit CART (Coins for Alzheimers Research Trust). Lower level upper baseline $50; Upper level corner $20. Deadline February 18.
  
Rotary District 7680 Annual Conference: Rotarians and family members are invited to the Annual Conference held at the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, oceanfront Myrtle Beach. April 4-6. Registration forms available at the Rotary office or on the District's website: http://www.rotarydistrict7680.org