Court Disbars 'Scooter' Libby

WASHINGTON - Former top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was banned Thursday from practicing law in the nation's capital following his perjury conviction in the case of a CIA operative's leaked identity.

In an order released by the D.C. Court of Appeals, a three-judge panel stripped Libby of his ability to practice law after he was found guilty last year of obstructing the investigation in the CIA leak investigation.

"When a member of the Bar is convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, disbarment is mandatory," reads the ruling, citing D.C. Code.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was first licensed to work as a lawyer in Washington in 1978. His membership with the D.C. bar also was suspended for failing to pay his dues, records show.

Last March, the former White House assistant also was found guilty of perjury and making false statements.

In July, Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2-year sentence, sparing him from serving any prison time after being convicted of perjury and obstructing justice. Libby dropped appeals to have his convictions overturned. He has paid a $250,000 fine and remains on two years probation.

Thursday's appeals court ruling also noted that "neither bar counsel nor respondent has taken exception to the board's report and recommendation."

Libby was the only person to face criminal charges in the case of the 2003 leak of Plame's identity. Plame has since left the CIA and contends the White House was trying to discredit her husband, a critic of President Bush's Iraq policy.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)