KC Johnson - Duke Lacrosse Case

Duke Lacrosse Case

Johnson had a prominent role chronicling the Duke lacrosse case scandal, exposing the many violations to due process that characterized the case in a blog entitled “Durham in Wonderland”, which he created solely for the purpose. Johnson's Durham in Wonderland contains one of the largest archives of events related to the case. Johnson holds critical views of some of Duke's faculty and staff, known as (Group of 88) and referred to as a “rush-to-judgment mob” who had published an ad condemning players and encouraging protests against the falsely accused, much before investigations had concluded.

One of the accused, Reade Selligman, thanked Johnson publicly, stating: “I am forever grateful for all of the care, concern, and encouragement I received from my remarkable girlfriend Brooke and her family, the Delbarton community, the town of Essex Fells, KC Johnson, and everyone else who chose to stand up, use their voice and challenge the actions of a rogue district attorney.” The prosecutor on the other hand, Mike Nifong, was disbarred, fined and sentenced to one day in jail.

Johnson would go on to join Stuart Taylor, Jr. and cowrite the book: “Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustice of the Duke Lacrosse Case” (ISBN 0-312-36912-3). It was published in September 2007. The New York Times book review referred to the book as a “riveting narrative” that has made a “gripping contribution to the literature of the wrongly accused.”