Susan Webber Wright
Encyclopedia
Susan Webber Wright is a United States federal judge
, presently serving as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
. She received national attention when she dismissed the sexual harassment
lawsuit
brought by Paula Jones
against President
Bill Clinton
in 1998.
, Wright received a B.A.
from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1970 and an M.P.A. from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1973. She received her J.D.
from University of Arkansas School of Law
in 1975. While there, she was a student of future president Bill Clinton in his course on admiralty law
; she later challenged him on her grade. The dispute occurred after Clinton lost all the exams and offered students a B+; Wright had desired an A and after negotiating with Clinton's fiance, Hillary Rodham, Clinton agreed to give Wright an A. A conservative Republican, Wright worked for the reelection campaign of Republican Representative
John Paul Hammerschmidt
in 1974, who defeated Clinton by 6,000 votes in what was the future president's first run for political office.
Upon graduation, Wright served as a law clerk
to J. Smith Henley of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
from 1975 to 1976. She was a member of the faculty of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law
from 1976 to 1990, as an assistant professor and assistant dean from 1976 to 1978, associate professor from 1980 to 1983, and full professor from 1983 to 1990. She was a research assistant to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention in 1979, and a visiting professor, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law in 1980, to the Ohio State University College of Law in 1981, and to the Louisiana State University Law Center from 1982 to 1983.
and the Western District of Arkansas
by President
George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, both seats having been vacated by Elsijane Trimble Roy
. Wright was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 23, 1990, and received her commission the following day. On December 1, 1990, she was reassigned to serve only on the Eastern District of Arkansas. Wright served as chief judge of that District from 1998 to 2005.
Wright also presided over Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton. The claims were based on activity alleged to have taken place when Clinton was Governor of Arkansas and Jones worked in his office. Wright refused to grant Clinton absolute presidential immunity against the lawsuit, but nonetheless ruled that a sitting president could not be sued and deferred his trial until after his presidential term was over; The ruling to keep Jones from suing Clinton, while he was still president, was overturned by the Eighth Circuit
. Clinton then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to consider Wright's ruling. However, the Supreme Court declined this request and allowed Jones's lawsuit to continue without delay.
On April 1, 1998, Wright granted summary judgment
to Clinton in a 39-page ruling that expressed exasperation with both Jones and her lawyers, and stated that she believed the case to be without legal merit. Jones's appeal to the Eighth Circuit
was dismissed when Clinton settled
with her out of court.
Wright was also involved with Kenneth Starr
's investigation of the Whitewater scandal, and issued numerous rulings that were both favorable and unfavorable to Clinton. Notably, Wright imprisoned Susan McDougal
for the maximum 18 months for civil contempt of court
when McDougal refused to answer "three questions" about whether President Bill Clinton lied in his testimony.
's law school. Together Robert and Susan had a daughter, Robin. On June 4, 2006, Robert R. Wright III, aged 74, died.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
, presently serving as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Conway, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Dehsa, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Grant,...
. She received national attention when she dismissed the sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
brought by Paula Jones
Paula Jones
Paula Corbin Jones is a former Arkansas state employee who sued U.S. President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. The lawsuit was dismissed before trial on the grounds that Jones failed to demonstrate any damages...
against President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 1998.
Early life, education, and career
Born in Texarkana, ArkansasTexarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
, Wright received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1970 and an M.P.A. from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1973. She received her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from University of Arkansas School of Law
University of Arkansas School of Law
The University of Arkansas School of Law is the law school of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a state university. It has around 445 students enrolled in its Juris Doctor and Master of Law programs and is home to the federally-funded National Agricultural Law Center and the...
in 1975. While there, she was a student of future president Bill Clinton in his course on admiralty law
Admiralty law
Admiralty law is a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans...
; she later challenged him on her grade. The dispute occurred after Clinton lost all the exams and offered students a B+; Wright had desired an A and after negotiating with Clinton's fiance, Hillary Rodham, Clinton agreed to give Wright an A. A conservative Republican, Wright worked for the reelection campaign of Republican Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
John Paul Hammerschmidt
John Paul Hammerschmidt
John Paul Hammerschmidt is an American politician from the U.S. state of Arkansas. A Republican, Hammerschmidt served for thirteen terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from the northwestern Arkansas district before he retired in 1993...
in 1974, who defeated Clinton by 6,000 votes in what was the future president's first run for political office.
Upon graduation, Wright served as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to J. Smith Henley of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
from 1975 to 1976. She was a member of the faculty of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law
University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law
The William H. Bowen School of Law is part of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and was established in 1975. The law school is public, and has approximately 450 law students enrolled in full-time and part-time divisions. The annual entering class is approximately 155 students...
from 1976 to 1990, as an assistant professor and assistant dean from 1976 to 1978, associate professor from 1980 to 1983, and full professor from 1983 to 1990. She was a research assistant to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention in 1979, and a visiting professor, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law in 1980, to the Ohio State University College of Law in 1981, and to the Louisiana State University Law Center from 1982 to 1983.
Federal judicial service
Recommended by Hammerschimdt, Wright was appointed to both the Eastern District of ArkansasUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Conway, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Dehsa, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Grant,...
and the Western District of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas is a United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clarke, Columbia, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Springs, Howard,...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, both seats having been vacated by Elsijane Trimble Roy
Elsijane Trimble Roy
Elsijane Trimble Roy was an an Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and a United States federal judge....
. Wright was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on January 23, 1990, and received her commission the following day. On December 1, 1990, she was reassigned to serve only on the Eastern District of Arkansas. Wright served as chief judge of that District from 1998 to 2005.
Wright also presided over Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton. The claims were based on activity alleged to have taken place when Clinton was Governor of Arkansas and Jones worked in his office. Wright refused to grant Clinton absolute presidential immunity against the lawsuit, but nonetheless ruled that a sitting president could not be sued and deferred his trial until after his presidential term was over; The ruling to keep Jones from suing Clinton, while he was still president, was overturned by the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
. Clinton then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to consider Wright's ruling. However, the Supreme Court declined this request and allowed Jones's lawsuit to continue without delay.
On April 1, 1998, Wright granted summary judgment
Summary judgment
In law, a summary judgment is a determination made by a court without a full trial. Such a judgment may be issued as to the merits of an entire case, or of specific issues in that case....
to Clinton in a 39-page ruling that expressed exasperation with both Jones and her lawyers, and stated that she believed the case to be without legal merit. Jones's appeal to the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
was dismissed when Clinton settled
Settlement (law)
In law, a settlement is a resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, reached either before or after court action begins. The term "settlement" also has other meanings in the context of law.-Basis:...
with her out of court.
Wright was also involved with Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
's investigation of the Whitewater scandal, and issued numerous rulings that were both favorable and unfavorable to Clinton. Notably, Wright imprisoned Susan McDougal
Susan McDougal
Susan McDougal is one of the few people who served prison time as a result of the Whitewater controversy although fifteen individuals were convicted of various federal charges...
for the maximum 18 months for civil contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
when McDougal refused to answer "three questions" about whether President Bill Clinton lied in his testimony.
Personal life
In 1983, Wright married Robert R. Wright III, law professor and co-founder of The University of Arkansas at Little RockUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock , is a public research university located in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, and the second largest university by enrollment in the state of Arkansas....
's law school. Together Robert and Susan had a daughter, Robin. On June 4, 2006, Robert R. Wright III, aged 74, died.
External links
- Trial Judge in Jones Case, a Republican Appointee, Has Long Known Clinton, by Susan Schmidt. Washington Post, May 29, 1997.
- Washington Post profile of Wright