Barnes & Nobleinfoseekad

Home
AllPolitics

 

 Home
 Analysis
 TIME
 CQ
 Community

The Jones Case
 Introduction
 Legal Issues
 Documents
 Characters

Related Stories

Judge Orders Jones Case Record Unsealed, Barring Appeal - June 30, 1998

Jones Appeal Difficult, But Not Impossible - April 16, 1998

Jones Will Appeal, Sources Say - April 16, 1998

Jones Set To Meet With Her Attorneys - April 15, 1998


Documents

Key legal documents from the case.


Voter's Voice

We've received a ton of e-mail on Paula Jones' lawsuit, and here's some of it. Or join an online discussion on our community page.


Changing Look

Paula Jones has changed lawyers, personal advisors and even her looks. Check out the changes with a JavaScript-enabled browser.


Related Sites

Court TV Online - Jones v. Clinton

Paula Jones Legal Fund Web site

Education and Information Project Web site -- Clinton defense site by James Carville

Full Text Of Jones' Original Complaint


Search


  Help

Judge In Jones' Case Known for Sticking to the Law

By Terry Frieden/CNN

Judge Wright
Judge Susan Webber Wright  

LITTLE ROCK (AllPolitics, April 1) -- Judge Susan Webber Wright, the moderate Republican who gave a Democratic president a stunning legal victory Wednesday by throwing out the Paula Jones lawsuit, is widely regarded as a jurist who sticks closely to the law when making her decisions.

Attorneys who have practiced in the courtroom of the 49-year-old federal district court judge say she is known for letting the law, not politics, guide her decision-making.

"I think she does a very thorough job with the pleadings and the motions that are filed in cases," says Little Rock lawyer Sam Perroni. "She takes a hard look at them to see if they have any legal merit."

A similar view is offered by those in academia.

"Fundamentally, Susan Wright follows the law and pays attention to the facts," says Little Rock law professor John DePippa. "If you did that in this case from the beginning to the end, you saw there were few facts of law to favor Paula Jones and many that favored the president. And that's indicated by the ruling she made today."

Got an A from Clinton in law school

When Wright was a student at the University of Arkansas law school, she took a class from a law professor named William Jefferson Clinton. On one occasion, he lost the law exams and offered the students B pluses.

Wright said no, appealed and ended up with an A.

Any notion that Wright might favor Clinton for giving her the A was dispelled in 1974 when he ran for Congress. Wright supported the Republican incumbent.

Years later, she supported George Bush's candidacy for president, and it was Bush who later appointed her to the federal bench.

Wright has presided over a Little Rock school desegregation case, but it was not until a Whitewater-related trial in 1996 that she emerged into the national spotlight.

The Jones case was not a happy one for the judge. She grew angry with the news media and with the blatant political agendas of the lawyers who constantly disclosed secret proceedings.

In Other News

Wednesday April 1, 1998

Judge Tosses Out Jones' Lawsuit
Jones Decision Raises Questions About Starr Probe
Congressional Reaction Split Along Party Lines
Judge: Jones' Case A Legal Strike Out
'Filegate' Depositions Sought From White House Aides
House Approves $218.3 Billion Highway Bill
Proposed West Virginia Highway Under Fire
White House Supports News Media's Request
Clinton's Attorney 'A Street Fighter'
Starr Investigation Costs Just Shy of $30 Million
White House To Announce Grants To Combat Youth Drunken Driving

Poll:
Most Americans Support Judge's Decision On Jones' Lawsuit

Profile:
Judge In Jones' Case Known for Sticking to the Law

Transcript:
Mike McCurry Reacts To Judge's Ruling


Archives   |   CQ News   |   TIME On Politics   |   Search   |   Feedback   |   Help

Copyright © 1998 AllPolitics All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this information is provided to you.
Who we are.