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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1997)
Supreme Court hears Paula Jones case I By Richard Carelli Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court aggressively questioned both sides Monday in a battle over the sexuaHiarassment lawsuit against President Clinton, expressing skepticism about judges managing a president’s time yet leery of having him appear above the law. The justices gave little indication whether they will let Paula Jones’ lawsuit go forward while Clinton is in office. The politically-charged case was argued just one week before Clinton’s sec ond-term inauguration. A decision, which also could affect future presidents, is expected by July. The hour-long argument did not address the merits of Jones’ allegation that Clinton propo sitioned her in a Little Rock hotel room in 1991 when he was governor of Arkansas. Clinton has denied her allegation and has said he can not recall ever meeting the former Arkansas state employee. Instead, lawyers debated whether any part of the case can proceed during the next four U-— We see presidents riding on horseback, chopping firewood... playing golf and so forth. ...The notion that he doesn’t have a minute to spare is not credible.” Justice Antonin Scalia years. The court never before has been asked to decide if a sitting president can be sued over acts unrelated to his job, whether they took place before or during his term. The justices sounded skeptical about argu ments from both sides. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said allowing judges to decide whether a president is too busy to be entangled in litigation may be too intru sive, and “argues strongly for the absolute privi lege that (Clinton’s lawyers) are suggesting.” Justice Antonin Scalia, although saying he was also concerned about giving trial judges too much authority over a president, voiced doubts about fashioning a blanket rule. “We see presidents riding on horseback, chopping firewood... playing golf and so forth. ... The notion that he doesn’t have a minute to spare is not credible,” Scalia said. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, meanwhile, worried aloud about delaying litigation for some future president sued for child custody or be cause land he owns “is boiling up with poi sons.” Robert Bennett, Clinton’s lawyer, told the justices that if presidents can be sued while in office “any county or state judge could virtu ally destroy the power of the presidency.” He added, “We’ll give Ms. Jones her day in court, but let’s not do it now.” When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked whether any of the 50 states offer a governor temporary immunity, Bennett had to concede, “We have found none ” Acting Solicitor General Walter Dellinger, the JusticeDepartment’s top-ranking courtroom lawyer, agreed with Bennett and urged the court not to “enmesh federal and state courts in a politically-charged task” of managing the president’s time. Lawyer Gil Davis, representing Jones, said Clinton’s argument “confuses the office of the presidency with the person who holds that of fice.” Referring to Clinton as a “citizen who holds u We’ll give Ms. Jones her day in court, but let’s not . do it now. ” Robert Bennett President Clinton’s lawyer the office of president of the United States,” Davis said Clinton “has the same rights and responsibilities as all other citizens.” A president should be given a postponement only if there is “an actual, imminent interfer ence with his job,” Davis said. But the argument soon became bogged down when he was asked by several justices how trial judges are to determine whether such a threat exists. The Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that presi dents cannot be sued for damages involving their official duties, even after they leave of fice. The prospect of such lawsuits could harm a president’s decision-making, the court said. But when Bennett invoked the 1982 ruling, Rehnquist told him, “I don’t see how that ele ment is present here.” i-1—i I NEED LIT BOOKS? I PAGE ONE 206 N 13 BOOKSTORE below DOUGLAS 3 1/2 COVER theatres PRICE 474*6316 # WANT TO COMMUNICATE BETTER? LEARN ASSERTIVE SKILLS. Our group will help you become more direct and honest while respecting the rights of others. Meeting MONDAYS, Feb. 3 - Mar.17,1997 from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Contact Sue at 472-7450. (Preregistration required.) > FAX NUMBER: 472-1761 The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Ne braskan by calling 472-2588. The public has access to the Publications Board. Subscription price is $55 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34. 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 685880448. Second-class postage raid at Lincoln, Neb. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1997 DAILY NEBRASKAN ■ 1 - - - J Questions about Internet access and the modem pool? We have answers! Find out more by any of these three methods: 1) Access the World Wide Web page at http://www.unl.edu/helpdesk/isp } 2) Log into your account on BIGRED, UNLINFO, UNLGRAD1 or Herbie, then choose Electronic News and read the newsgroup: unl.is.modempool 3) Use anonymous ftp to access the server ftp.unl.edu, and download the file /pub/org/is/modempool/faq 1 If you have questions about any of these options, call the Help Desk at 472-3970. like a book, and those that home read but one page" — St. Augustine * • V • Peace Corps Is Coming To UNL! - r ; 1 " ’ " 1 " ‘ 1 "i Information Table Film Show Jan. 13-15 "Completely Alive" 9 am-3 pm Wed., Jan. 15th, 3pm Nebraska Union Room posted ___•