9/17/2019 Clinton v.

Jones - Case Brief for Law Students | Casebriefs

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Clinton v. Jones

Citation. 142 F.3d 496, 330 U.S. App. D.C. 48, 26 Med. L. Rptr. 1660 (D.C. Cir. 1998)
(https://casetext.com/case/in-re-motions-of-dow-jones-company-inc?ref=Scb!2K-
U-E)

Brief Fact Summary. The Respondent, Paula Jones Corbin (Respondent), led a
complaint containing four counts against the Petitioner, President Clinton
(Petitioner), alleging the Petitioner made unwanted sexual advances towards her
when he was the Governor of Arkansas.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. The United States Constitution (Constitution) does not
automatically grant the President of the United States immunity from civil
lawsuits based upon his private conduct unrelated to his of cial duties as
President.

Facts. The Respondent led a complaint against

the Petitioner alleging that the Petitioner made
unwanted sexual advances towards her when he
was the Governor of Arkansas. The Petitioner led
motions asking the district court to dismiss the
case on grounds of presidential immunity and to
prohibit the Respondent from re- ling the suit until
after the end of his presidency. The district court rejected the presidential
immunity argument, but held that no trial would take place until the Petitioner was
no longer president. Both parties appealed to the United States Supreme Court
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9/17/2019 Clinton v. Jones - Case Brief for Law Students | Casebriefs

(Supreme Court), which granted certiorari.

Issue. Whether the President can be involved in a lawsuit during his presidency
for actions that occurred before the tenure of his presidency and that were not
related to of cial duties of the presidency?

Held. Af rmed.
The President of the United States can be involved in a lawsuit during his tenure
for actions not related to his of cial duties as President.
It was an abuse of discretion of the District Court to order a stay of this lawsuit
until after the President’s tenure. The District Court’s decision to order a stay was
premature and a lengthy and categorical stay takes no account whatsoever of the
Respondent’s interest in bringing the suit to trial.
Concurrence. It is important to recognize that civil lawsuits could signi cantly
interfere with the public duties of an of cial. The concurring judge believed that
ordinary case-management principles were likely to prove insuf cient to deal with
private civil lawsuits, unless supplemented with a constitutionally based
requirement that district courts schedule proceedings so as to avoid signi cant
interference with the President’s ongoing discharge of his of cial responsibilities.

Discussion. A sitting President of The United States does not have immunity from
civil lawsuits based on the President’s private actions unrelated to his public
actions as President. The doctrine of separation of powers does not require
federal courts to stay all private actions against the President until he leaves
of ce. The doctrine of separation of powers is concerned with the allocation of
of cial power among the three co-equal branches of governme

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