Prosecutor in the Spotlight

A profile of the independent counsel investigating President Clinton:

PERSONAL

Born: July 21, 1946, Vernon, Texas, son of the Rev. W.D. and Vannie Maude Starr.

Marital status: Married on Aug. 13, 1970, to Alice Jean Mendell; they have four children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, 1968; master’s from Brown University, 1969; law degree from Duke University, 1973.

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THE PUBLIC’S VIEW OF CURRENT PROBE

From a CNN / USA Today / Gallup Poll, taken Wednesday, of 672 adults nationwide.

* Star is conducting fair/impartial probe into legitimate issues: 28%

* He is using criminal justice system to achieve political ends: 53%

Margin of error, plus or minus 4 percentage points

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TIMELINE: Law Career Began in Los Angeles

1974-75: Associate, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles

1975-77: Law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, U.S. Supreme Court, Washington

1977-81: Associated partner Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Washington

1981-83: Counselor to attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington

1983-89: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit)

1989-93: Solicitor general, Department of Justice, Washington

1993: Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, Washington

1994: Independent counsel for Whitewater investigation

1997: Postpones taking post as dean of Pepperdine Law School and founding dean of Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy until the investigation ends.

Source: 1995 Marquis Who’s Who