What 1997 US Supreme Court case held that a sitting President could be sued for unofficial actions while in office?

Answer 1

Clinton v. Jones, 520 US 681 (1997)

Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee, filed a civil suit against President Clinton for sexual harassment that occurred while he was Governor of Arkansas. The President attempted to invoke the doctrine of Presidential Immunity and argued, at the very least, the case should be deferred until the end of his term of office. A US District Court granted a stay against prosecution which Jones appealed. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed the District Court decision as an abuse of discretion. Clinton appealed the Eighth Circuit's ruling to the Supreme Court.

In a unanimous decision, the US Supreme Court held that the doctrine of Presidential Immunity, intended to protect the President from civil litigation arising from damages caused by official acts, could not be extended to suits based on unofficial conduct.

The Court further held that a sitting President could be sued; the litigation need not be deferred until the President's term of office ends.

Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer, 343 US 479 (1952) (the steel seizure case) and United States v. Nixon, 418 US 683 (1974) established that the President may be subject to judicial scrutiny and court orders related to acts in office. Therefore, there is no prohibition against "burdening" the President for unofficial conduct.

Finally, the Supreme Court said that if Congress finds it appropriate to enhance Presidential immunity, it must pass legislation specifically addressing the issue.