DEL.ICIO.US"Butch" Williams represented unindicted lacrosse co-captain
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published on: 07/30/07
Durham, N.C. — A Durham lawyer who represented an unindicted player in the now-debunked Duke lacrosse rape case is working on another high-profile sports case: the dogfighting investigation involving NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
James D. "Butch" Williams, who also works as an agent for professional athletes, is one of five attorneys representing the Atlanta Falcons star.
| |||||
| |||||
"I can't talk too much about the particulars of the case," Williams said. "But I will tell you this one will be more difficult than the Duke lacrosse case."
Williams is preaching caution about rushing to judgment in the Vick case, just as he did in the lacrosse case, which began when a woman told police she was raped by three lacrosse players at a March 2006 team party where she was hired as a stripper. Williams represented Dan Flannery, one of the team captains and a resident of the house where the party was held.
In that case, the prosecutor, Mike Nifong, pushed ahead with the investigation while making inflammatory statements to the media about the players' guilt. The case ultimately fell apart, state prosecutors declared the falsely accused players innocent, and Nifong resigned as Durham County's district attorney and was disbarred for misconduct.
Williams, who has practiced law in Durham for 28 years, tried to quietly reason with Nifong in the early days of the case.
"Butch's efforts on the Duke lacrosse case were extraordinary," said Bill Cotter, a Durham defense lawyer who represented another player who wasn't indicted. "He's got a great reputation. He's credible. He's very knowledgeable. He has a lot of inside information, and he's going to tell you what he knows.
"If Mike Nifong had listened to him, he still would be the district attorney."
In the Vick case, Williams said defense lawyers have not obtained all evidence collected by federal investigators. Vick and three others face federal charges involving competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
"Seems like Mike's already being prejudged in the media," Williams said.
Williams said he was eager to work on Vick's defense team with Billy Martin of Washington, Daniel R. Meachum of Atlanta, and Virginia Beach lawyers Lawrence H. Woodward Jr. and Thomas B. Shuttleworth. Williams also represents Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, a former North Carolina player and Vick's favorite downfield passing target.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Williams said he knew early that he wanted to be a lawyer. He went to college and law school at North Carolina Central University before a stint in the U.S. Marines took him to California.
"Helping people and solving problems," Williams said, "that's what I like."
———
Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com
Services »
