The "Duke" Disbarment

I have to admit I was glued to my satellite radio listening to the Prosecutorial misconduct case for Nifong this passed week. The alleged Duke Rape case was enough to make any mother of boys cringe and despair to think that "But for the Grace of God go I," in hoping that we raise our children with enough common sense and moral values that they would not get involved in a situation which could lead to these type of allegations. The fact of the matter exists however, that those boys could have been any of our sons and the fact that they were so doggedly pursued and essentially railroaded leaves us all a little uneasy with our common believe that the truth will always set us free. In this case it was some hidden DNA results that set them free. Hidden in fact so well that it took a team of lawyers quite a while to discover it amongst many many pages of requested discovery. As the mother of sons I am angry that a mere allegation by some woman whose morals and judgment can and should certainly be questioned can cause such destruction in the lives of some careless young men. I am also angered by the power the DA exerted in doggedly pursuing this case when evidence came in questioning the allegations made. Did the DA misuse his office? Of course he did.

That being said, I wonder still if disbarment of Nifong was the correct punishment for this crime. Being an attorney myself I truly feel for other lawyers who are brought before the grievance committee in an attempt to second guess their actions. Regardless of Nifong's zeal in prosecuting this case, did his actions warrant the I punishment he received which is basically stripping him of his ability to earn a living? This is the question with which I struggle. I am glad that he resigned his position of DA and in fact would have been in favor of throwing him out of the position physically had he not resigned on his own. I also don't think this man should be put in any other positions of power, like a judgeship. Perhaps therefore a public censure would have been more of an appropriate punishment. Taking away his ability to provide for his family seems to me an inappropriate way of expressing our displeasure of his actions.
Perhaps I am soft hearted, but disbarment in my mind should be reserved for those who have no moral compass, not for those who have merely lost their way.