The Disbarment of Former President Bill Clinton: A Look into the Legal Repercussions

In the annals of American political history, the events surrounding the disbarment of former U.S. President Bill Clinton hold an unparalleled significance. Not only was he the first incumbent president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but he also became the first former president to be disbarred from practicing law in his home state of Arkansas. This article provides a detailed examination of this consequential event.

In 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from a deposition in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former Arkansas state employee, Paula Jones. During the deposition, Clinton denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, contradicting Lewinsky's grand jury testimony. However, the Senate acquitted Clinton of these charges in February 1999, enabling him to complete his term as President.

Nevertheless, the legal consequences of Clinton's actions did not end with his acquittal. In April 1999, U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright held Clinton in civil contempt of court for his "willfully false" testimony in the Jones case, marking the first time a sitting president had been held in contempt of court. Judge Wright then referred Clinton's conduct to the Arkansas Supreme Court's Committee on Professional Conduct, as he was a licensed lawyer in Arkansas.

Following an investigation, the Committee issued a disbarment lawsuit against Clinton in May 2000. Clinton, rather than contesting the lawsuit, agreed to a five-year suspension of his Arkansas law license. However, in October 2001, the Arkansas Supreme Court, apparently unsatisfied with the suspension, took the additional step of disbarment. It ordered Clinton's name removed from the state's roll of licensed attorneys and sent a copy of the order to the disbarment clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Subsequently, in a related matter, the U.S. Supreme Court suspended Clinton from practicing before it in October 2001 and, when he failed to contest the suspension within 40 days, disbarred him in 2002. Therefore, Clinton became the first former president to be disbarred in both his home state as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

The disbarment of Clinton had significant implications beyond his personal career. It created a stain on his legacy and highlighted the potential legal repercussions for a president who violates the oath of office. Furthermore, it served as a reminder of the ethical obligations that all lawyers, including those holding high political offices, have to the court and the justice system. Today, the disbarment of Bill Clinton remains a significant event in American political and legal history, underlining the stark consequences of perjury and obstruction of justice.