The
Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from three Duke Lacrosse players who
were wrongfully accused of rape in March 2006. David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann filed a lawsuit against the City of Durham, North Carolina, holding
it responsible for pursuing the rape charges against them without probable
cause. The charges stemmed from false allegations
made by Crystal Mangum, a stripper hired to perform at a team party held on
March 13, 2006. Without any evidentiary
basis, Evans, Finnerty, and Seligmann were indicted for Mangum’s alleged rape.[1] The Supreme Court’s recent refusal to hear
their appeal marks the end of the players’ civil rights lawsuit. Consequently, the Court’s refusal leaves many unanswered
questions about the prosecutorial and police misconduct that occurred during
the case.
