Panel Urges Clinton Disbarment
- Thread starter Steven Mace
- Start date
Yeah!
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/Clinton_Disbar000522.html
Legal Jeopardy
Panel Recommends Disbarment of Clinton
The Associated Press
L I T T L E R O C K, Ark. May 22 — A committee of the Arkansas Supreme Court recommended today that President Clinton be disbarred because of “serious misconduct” in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.
A majority of the panelists who met Friday to consider two complaints against the president found that he should be disciplined for false testimony about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the Supreme Court said in releasing the committee recommendation.
Under the rules of the Committee of Professional Conduct, the disbarment recommendation goes to Pulaski County Circuit Court judge in Little Rock for consideration.
‘Serious Misconduct’
“This action is being taken against [Clinton] as a result of the formal complaints … and the findings by a majority of the committee that certain of the attorney’s conduct, as demonstrated in the complaint, constituted serious misconduct,” in violation of state rules governing lawyers, the committee’s executive director said in a letter to the court.
Clinton has been a lawyer for more than 25 years and taught at the University of Arkansas law school. He has not practiced since the early 1980s, between his first and second terms as Arkansas governor.
Clinton was governor from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 until he was elected president in 1992.
If a judge at the circuit court level disbars Clinton, the president can appeal to the state Supreme Court.
The letter, dated today, was signed by James Neal, the committee’s executive director, whose retirement from the panel was also announced today.
Eight Members Bow Out
The committee has 14 full-time members — lawyers and lay people — who sit in panels of seven. Because of Clinton’s widespread connections throughout the state, eight of the panelists bowed out before Friday’s regular committee meeting.
Of the six who heard Clinton’s case, five are practicing lawyers and the sixth is a retired school teacher. The Southeastern Legal Foundation of Atlanta and U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright referred Clinton to the committee, saying he lied when he denied a sexual relationship with Lewinsky during a sworn deposition in January 1998.
The foundation wanted Clinton disbarred and Wright did not suggest a specific penalty.
“This is a a confirmation that the legal system will police its own, regardless of the position held by the attorney in question,” said Matt Glavin, president of the foundation.
“Remember, this is the first time in American history that a sitting president faced disciplinary proceedings,” Glavin said.
Wright also cited Clinton for civil contempt and fined him $90,000 for giving “intentionally false” testimony. She has not spoken about the case since citing Clinton April 12, 1999.
Clinton sought something no harsher than a letter of reprimand, Glavin said this month.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/Clinton_Disbar000522.html
Legal Jeopardy
Panel Recommends Disbarment of Clinton
The Associated Press
L I T T L E R O C K, Ark. May 22 — A committee of the Arkansas Supreme Court recommended today that President Clinton be disbarred because of “serious misconduct” in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.
A majority of the panelists who met Friday to consider two complaints against the president found that he should be disciplined for false testimony about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the Supreme Court said in releasing the committee recommendation.
Under the rules of the Committee of Professional Conduct, the disbarment recommendation goes to Pulaski County Circuit Court judge in Little Rock for consideration.
‘Serious Misconduct’
“This action is being taken against [Clinton] as a result of the formal complaints … and the findings by a majority of the committee that certain of the attorney’s conduct, as demonstrated in the complaint, constituted serious misconduct,” in violation of state rules governing lawyers, the committee’s executive director said in a letter to the court.
Clinton has been a lawyer for more than 25 years and taught at the University of Arkansas law school. He has not practiced since the early 1980s, between his first and second terms as Arkansas governor.
Clinton was governor from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 until he was elected president in 1992.
If a judge at the circuit court level disbars Clinton, the president can appeal to the state Supreme Court.
The letter, dated today, was signed by James Neal, the committee’s executive director, whose retirement from the panel was also announced today.
Eight Members Bow Out
The committee has 14 full-time members — lawyers and lay people — who sit in panels of seven. Because of Clinton’s widespread connections throughout the state, eight of the panelists bowed out before Friday’s regular committee meeting.
Of the six who heard Clinton’s case, five are practicing lawyers and the sixth is a retired school teacher. The Southeastern Legal Foundation of Atlanta and U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright referred Clinton to the committee, saying he lied when he denied a sexual relationship with Lewinsky during a sworn deposition in January 1998.
The foundation wanted Clinton disbarred and Wright did not suggest a specific penalty.
“This is a a confirmation that the legal system will police its own, regardless of the position held by the attorney in question,” said Matt Glavin, president of the foundation.
“Remember, this is the first time in American history that a sitting president faced disciplinary proceedings,” Glavin said.
Wright also cited Clinton for civil contempt and fined him $90,000 for giving “intentionally false” testimony. She has not spoken about the case since citing Clinton April 12, 1999.
Clinton sought something no harsher than a letter of reprimand, Glavin said this month.
HEY ! There's a poll at CNN.
www.cnn.com
scroll down and you'll see it. So far it's 66% in favor of disbarrment.
Get him !
www.cnn.com
scroll down and you'll see it. So far it's 66% in favor of disbarrment.
Get him !