By James Jefferson
Associated Press Writer
Monday, May 22, 2000; 5:12 p.m. EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –– A committee of the Arkansas Supreme Court recommended Monday that President Clinton be disbarred because of "serious misconduct" in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

A majority of the panelists who met Friday to consider two complaints against the president found that the president should be disciplined for false testimony about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, the Supreme Court said in releasing the committee recommendation.

Under the rules of the Committee of Professional Conduct, the disbarment recommendation goes to Pulaski County Circuit Court judge in Little Rock for disbarment proceedings. If the judge disbars Clinton, the president can appeal to the state Supreme Court.

"This action is being taken against (Clinton) as a result of the formal complaints ... and the findings by a majority of the committee that certain of the attorney's conduct, as demonstrated in the complaint, constituted serious misconduct," in violation of state rules governing lawyers, the committee's executive director said in a letter to the court.

Clinton has been a lawyer for more than 25 years and taught at the University of Arkansas law school. He has not practiced since the early 1980s, between his first and second terms as Arkansas governor.

Clinton was governor from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 until he was elected president in 1992.

The letter, dated Monday, was signed by James Neal, the committee's executive director, whose retirement from the panel was also announced on Monday.

The committee has 14 full-time members – lawyers and nonlawyers – who sit in panels of seven. Because of Clinton's widespread connections throughout the state, eight of the panelists bowed out before Friday's meeting, most of them citing potential conflicts of interest.

Of the six who heard Clinton's case, five are lawyers and the sixth is a retired schoolteacher.

The Southeastern Legal Foundation of Atlanta and U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright referred Clinton to the committee, saying he lied when he denied a sexual relationship with Lewinsky during a deposition in the Jones case in January 1998.

The foundation wanted Clinton disbarred and Wright did not suggest a specific penalty.

"This is a confirmation that the legal system will police its own, regardless of the position held by the attorney in question," said Matt Glavin, president of the foundation. "Remember, this is the first time in American history that a sitting president faced disciplinary proceedings."

Clinton sought something no harsher than a letter of reprimand, according to Glavin.

Wright also cited Clinton for civil contempt and fined him $90,000 for giving "intentionally false" testimony.