"It's about time."
Bob Booth, retired CEO Durham Chamber of Commerce
"We need to move on. Durham really needs to move on."
Eugene Brown, Durham city councilman
"Folks were respectful of the rule of law, and at this time we feel that the judicial process has gone through avenues it needs to go through and we have confidence in the attorney general."
Statement from Andre Vann, executive secretary, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People
"Let's be clear about what was said today. The attorney general did not dismiss the allegations on narrow, equivocal or legalistic ground. He determined our students to be innocent of the charges and said they were 'the tragic result of a rush to accuse.' In short, he used the strongest language of vindication."
Duke University President Richard Brodhead.
"This matter has caused anguish for all parties involved; however, as a result, collaborations between North Carolina Central University and Duke University have grown stronger. NCCU and Duke engaged in some very important discussions and forums that enhanced our tolerance and raised awareness regarding race, class, sexual assault and athletic privilege. Now that the investigation has concluded, let the healing begin and the growth continue."
James Ammons, chancellor of NCCU, which the accuser attended.
"On the one hand, I feel good for the young men that this this burden has been lifted off their back. On the other hand, I feel badly for them because they were falsely accused."
NCAA President Myles Brand.
"Everyone associated with the team has dealt with the unfairness of negative public scrutiny regarding their character and their values. Neither should have been questioned."
Duke Athletic Director Joe Alleva.
"In closing, we express our relief for today's outcome and recognize the character that our three students, their teammates and all of their families have shown over the past year. Furthermore, we hope that the resolution of this unfair, divisive and painful episode can serve to unite us all. There is much to learn from the events that we have lived through, and we intend to put this learning to use. Duke is a great university that steps up to challenges and opportunities, and together we will use this moment to make our community stronger."
Robert K. Steel, chair of the Duke University Board of Trustees.
"Two days after this happened, I knew what the truth was. When you say you believe in somebody, when you say you believe the truth, you stand by them." Former Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler
"The Duke lacrosse case was prosecuted by a man who had not a care in the world about justice but only about himself and his personal agenda. He is a man who ignored overwhelming evidence of innocence ... and deliberately mislead this community, misled the media and even mislead the court in his search for a false conviction."
Joe Cheshire
"I've been looking forward to the time of getting closure and finality. That's what today represents. We've reached the point that I was hoping we'd reach." Durham Mayor Bill Bell.
"If she (the accuser) can keep herself out of the limelight, she can probably over a period of time regain her ability to live in and among the community. People have done worse than this."
Woody Vann, a Durham attorney who once represented the accuser.
"I hope that all involved will be safe and will outlive their scars. It came to a rather dramatic and mysterious close. We can hope that the young people involved will not be permanently scarred and damaged."
Jesse Jackson
"We respect the integrity of the attorney general's investigation and supported the involvement of special prosecutors. If his office believes the state lacks sufficient evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that all the elements of each crime took place, then it is the State's constitutional duty to dismiss the charges."
the Rev. William Barber, president of the state chapter of the NAACP.
"Since he recused himself in January and turned the case over to the Attorney General's Office, he has had no involvement in the investigation. At the time he turned the case over - and now - he has had complete confidence in the Attorney General's Office to make the appropriate decision."
David Freedman, attorney for Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong.
"What I hope it does is to make the public aware and sensitive to the importance of public scrutiny of what prosecutor can do. They have enormous power. They can ruin innocent people and in some cases put innocent people in prison never to get out because they don't do their job with integrity. That's really the lesson."
James Coleman, Duke University law professor.