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.

[Republic]

Why...I expect it will be there lead story. Don't cha think? LOL

Disgraceful. The ex-President of the most powerful, freedom loving and generous nation on the earth, a man who took an OATH OF OFFICE to DEFEND OUR RULE OF LAW, has lost his right to appear before the Supreme Court in his chosen profession. Amazing. Pitiful.

And this coming just after a man was FORCED to give up his home and land so that the clinton library can proceed to the building stage. This small man did not WANT TO GIVE UP HIS LAND, especially to that sorry excuse for a president. Imagine if that had been you or me? Clinton is a horror.

[KLT]

Well, I just had to steal it jws, you did a superb job, it looks as good as Clintoooons real nose!

[Jorge]

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.

...and these are his GOOD qualities!

[Bush2000]

How said that impeachment didn't amount to anything? This sad sack of shit has been impeached, disbarred, and permanently tarred as a liar. I have to say ... it was well worth the cost of Ken Starr's investigation to have it rammed down Bill Clinton and the Democrat's throats.

[Capt_Hank]

I just fired off my email to ABC News. Even on their site, no mention of Clinton. Hmmmmmmm.... I wonder why. I had to have an extra glass of wine in order to watch their news. Some good came out of it.

[Ciexyz]

He did the dirty deed, he deserves the disgrace. But I have to admit I feel sorry for the ex-Prez. Same as I feel sorry for a convict serving time. Clinton's locked in the prison of his disgraced reputation. He'll go down in history as the first ex-President suspended from the Supreme Court. And he can only point the finger at his own sorry self.

[Morgan's Raider]

"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.

In other words, "the sumbitch still hasn't paid me and the other attornies what he owes us, and there's not another lawyer in his right mind gonna take this case and get stuck with the bill".

[victim soul]

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

[Luke FReeman]

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.

Hey Peter!

It's been so long since we've seen you here.

Please flag me when you pen the Hillary adjectives!

Florida FReeper FRegards!

[Tom D.]

Clinton is just like any other wimp. He talks a big line and will keep talking until someone hands him a roll of toilet paper and tells him to use it or get off. The House of Representatives did what their oaths required of them, but Clinton counted on the wimps in the Senate to give him a pass, and give him a pass they did, in spades. The Senate wimps did not even let the House managers put on evidence. It is no wonder that the Republicans are the Senate Minority party. Their performance in the Clinton impeachment proceeding made me ashamed to be a Republican. No wonder that spineless and ba_less bunch is now the Senate minority party. Jeffers may be sorry for jumping ship, but Lott is worse. Lott was called upon to do what needed to be done and that Mississippi cheerleader rolled. His bal_s are smaller than # 8 shot; in fact, the Ole Miss cheerleaders in skirts must have been better hung than he is. His duty to the party was to support the party; his duty to the country was to support our Republic. Not since King David ordered the abandonment of Uriah has more treachary been practiced on such trusting and righteous and faithful servants. Not since Pilate has a so called man abandoned his duty so blatently.

Had the Senate wimps stood as strong a the Supreme Court or half as strong as the House Managers, Clinton would have been toast. All it takes is for someone to tell him to go to hell; that he is full of crap and should shut up before he spills anymore of his manure, and he rolls.

Bin Laden understands Clinton and his ilk well. In large measure, that is what September 11 was all about.

[an amused spectator]

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.

It isn't a Friday, is it? ;-)

[pray4liberty]

Richard Nixon was nowhere anything like the scumbags husband even in historical terms.

This is the difference. Nixon lied to cover for his friends. Clinton lied to cover his own wide load of a butt.

[TENCHU]

I agree, I am growing tired of that CLINTON name no matter where you go that name always comes up about him or her, What they really need to do is to put him where he belongs "Behind Bars" He did this country a great unjustice with all his lying, sneeking about,at least Nixon admitted he did wrong from the start!

[pray4liberty]

He talks a big line and will keep talking until someone hands him a roll of toilet paper and tells him to use it or get off.

Yeah, with his face on it!

Jim are you game to design this one?

[pray4liberty]

"Clintoilet Paper...smells before you use it!"

[Pipers]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Here's to you Paula!!!Congrats and well done. And to you Linda. Thanks ladies.

[Stand_Up]

thats a little over the edge don't you think?

[sig229]

Wasn't he our XXX-President?

[Diddle E. Squat]

I heard Bill dined tonight on the newest Chinese food specialty: The Peter Jennings Lettuce Roll.