Neal v. Clinto

2001 WL 34355768 (2001)

Facts

Clinton (D) was admitted to practice law in Arkansas in 1973. He put his license on inactive status in 1990. and lived in Washington D.C. D was subject to Arkansas’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct when Paula Jones brought her civil suit against him. D violated this Court's discovery orders regarding the disclosure of information deemed by the Court to be relevant to Jones’ lawsuit. The judge in the case found D in civil contempt for giving false, misleading, and evasive answers during a deposition, concerning whether he had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. Judge Wright concluded:... there simply is no escaping the fact that D deliberately violated this Court's discovery Orders and thereby undermined the integrity of the judicial system. D was ordered to pay $90,000 in contempt sanctions. The judge also ruled that the matters which D gave false testimony were not material. D got summary judgment in the suit. D settled Jones' appeal for $850,000, plus nearly $90,000 in expenses and attorney fees. The judge (and many others) referred the matter to the Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct. P voted to initiate disbarment and D answered the complaint and agreed to an order of discipline.