Existing comment:
Presidential Immunity from Civil Suits
The president of the United States enjoys immunity from civil suits arising from events that take place during the time in office. Civil suits arising from events taking place prior to the president's term present a separate question. In Jones v. Clinton, U.S. District Judge Susan Webber determined that President Clinton did not have immunity from a civil suit initiated against him by Arkansas state employee Paula Jones because the events that she alleged occurred before he took office. In a memorandum opinion, Judge Webber traced the legal limits of executive power back to Magna Carta and the English legal tradition that the king is subject to the law. |