Ex-President Clinton resigns from Supreme Court bar rather than fight suspension

AP ^ | 11/9/01 | ANNE GEARAN

[truthandlife]

Former President Clinton asked to resign from the Supreme Court bar Friday, rather than fight suspension or disbarment related to the Paula Jones sexual harassment investigation.

The high court suspended Clinton Oct. 1 as a follow-up to suspension of his law license in his home state of Arkansas. The high court gave Clinton until Friday to say why he should not be permanently barred from appearing before the high court as a lawyer.

Clinton lawyer David Kendall, in a letter to the court clerk, linked Clinton's request to the loss of his Arkansas law license.

On Jan. 19, a day before he left office, Clinton agreed to a 5-year suspension of the license and a $25,000 fine as part of a settlement that ended the Monica Lewinsky investigation. Independent Counsel Robert Ray agreed not to prosecute Clinton after he left office.

The agreement also satisfied the legal effort by the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct to disbar Clinton for giving misleading testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

"In order to avoid the burden of litigation for all parties, to achieve an expeditious and definitive resolution, and in acknowledgment that his actions merited censure, former President Clinton agreed to the suspension and fine," Kendall wrote Friday.

The high court could act on Clinton's request as soon as Tuesday.

Supreme Court disbarment typically follows disbarment in lower courts, and is considered final. In a few cases, lawyers who have successfully regained their law licenses in lower courts have successfully won reinstatement at the Supreme Court. Likewise, Clinton could reapply if he regains his law license, in Arkansas or elsewhere, and keeps it blemish-free for three years.

Membership in the Supreme Court bar is largely ceremonial, but is regarded as an honor among lawyers. Membership requires a sponsor who is already a member, and who will vouch for the candidate's qualifications.

Clinton was admitted to the Supreme Court bar in 1977, when he was Arkansas attorney general. Like most lawyers admitted to the high court bar, Clinton has never argued a case before it.

[johniegrad]

The Clinton Legacy continues.

[Teacher317]

Shoot! Where was this quitter attitude during his impeachment?

[Petronski]

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

[TheMole]

Exactly as some posters here predicted. His lackeys made noise about the injustice of it all for the media's benefit, and then waited almost to the end of the time given to appeal before dropping the whole thing as quietly as possible.

[TommyDale]

One word -- D-I-S-G-R-A-C-E !!

[RippleFire]

Hey Bubba, don't let the door hit you on the butt!

[Peter W. Kessler]

bill clinton is a stinking lump of excrement from the lowest form of life on earth. He resides in a dank, fetid sewer of human filth and degradation, wallowing in the muck and bodily waste of other low forms of life.

[syriacus]

In order to avoid the burden of litigation for all parties, to achieve an expeditious and definitive resolution, and in acknowledgment that his actions merited censure, former President Clinton agreed to the suspension and fine," Kendall wrote Friday.

IS this mean what I think it IS mean?

[Zoey]

LOL. I was looking forward to seeing the Supreme Court drop kick him. Too bad he gave up without a fight.

[Cicero]

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think!

[Dog]

CLINTON IS A QUITTER!!!!!

[KC Burke]

The article says:
"In order to avoid the burden of litigation for all parties, to achieve an expeditious and definitive resolution, and in acknowledgment that his actions merited censure, former President Clinton agreed to the suspension and fine," Kendall wrote Friday.

Actually, they are trying to have him resign and dodge the embarassment of disbarment again, here, as in his settlement that dodged the Arkansas Disbarment. Clinton will dodge and dodge until he can claim it was really just partisan politics...."after all," he will claim, "I was never actually convicted in Impeachment, Disbared in Arkansas, Disbared off the Supreme Court....I just did the necessary noble moves to benefit the nation."

[Native American Female Vet]

Peter..now why don't ya tell us what you really think. LOL

[bwteim]

LOL!

[Teacup]

Heck! With all the money he's making giving speeches, and Hillary's 8 million dollar book deal. Who needs a law license? Don't forget. Bubba had one Million dollars in his checking account for walking around money. ERRRR!

[harpseal]

Well said but I believe you forgot to weave in the word putrescent. I read your description of Clinton and I think you caught the essence of the man but as I ahve often tried to descibe him and failed in understatement of how vile he truly is I bow to your exellently worded description.

Stay well - Stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

[Teacup]

BAWAWAHAHA! Good one Peter. (Hey, how ya been?)

[Uncle George]

He cant resign; He was TERMINATED, fired, canned, pink sliped, caught lieing too many times.

[Illbay]

In historical terms, the only difference between Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon will be seen as "Tricky Dick knew when it was time to go."