Ken Starr
Born 1946 · Age 79
American lawyer, federal judge, U.S. Solicitor General, independent counsel for the Whitewater/Lewinsky investigations, academic leader (Pepperdine dean, Baylor president/chancellor), and author.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Vernon, Texas
Kenneth Winston Starr born near Vernon, Texas; son of a Churches of Christ minister.
Graduated Sam Houston High School (approx.)
Attended and graduated Sam Houston High School in San Antonio; top student—voted most likely to succeed.
Earned B.A. in History, George Washington University
Completed undergraduate degree at George Washington University; member of Delta Phi Epsilon.
Earned M.A., Brown University
Earned a Master of Arts degree from Brown University.
Married Alice Mendell
Married Alice Mendell (who converted to Christianity); they would have three children.
Law clerk to Judge David W. Dyer (5th Circuit)
Served as law clerk to Judge David W. Dyer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1973–1974).
J.D., Duke University School of Law
Graduated from Duke University School of Law; served as an editor of the Duke Law Journal.
Law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
Clerked for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the U.S. Supreme Court (1975–1977).
Joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Washington, D.C.)
Entered private practice with the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Appointed Counselor to U.S. Attorney General
Appointed counselor to U.S. Attorney General William French Smith (1981).
Nominated to D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
Nominated by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (seat vacated by George MacKinnon).
Confirmed and Commissioned, D.C. Circuit Judge
Confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received commission as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Resigned D.C. Circuit judgeship
Resigned from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (May 26, 1989) to become Solicitor General.
Became U.S. Solicitor General
Sworn in as the 39th Solicitor General of the United States under President George H. W. Bush (in office May 26, 1989–Jan 20, 1993).
Shortlisted for U.S. Supreme Court
Was the leading candidate to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court after Justice William Brennan's retirement; nomination ultimately went to David Souter.
Left Solicitor General post
Ended service as U.S. Solicitor General on Jan 20, 1993 with the end of the Bush administration.
Joined Kirkland & Ellis (partner period begins)
Returned to private practice, serving as partner at Kirkland & Ellis (partner 1993–2004; later of counsel).
Took Independent Counsel role part‑time; retained private practice ties
Served as independent counsel part-time while maintaining association with Kirkland & Ellis, later drawing conflict-of-interest criticism.
Review of Senator Packwood diaries
Selected to review Republican Senator Bob Packwood's diaries for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
Appointed Independent Counsel for Whitewater
Appointed by a three‑judge panel as independent counsel to continue the Whitewater investigation (replacing Robert B. Fiske).
Report on Vince Foster death released
Office of Independent Counsel released report concluding Vince Foster died by suicide (report largely drafted by deputy Brett Kavanaugh).
Investigations expanded to Lewinsky, perjury and obstruction allegations
Independent Counsel inquiry expanded to include potential perjury and obstruction related to President Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky and related matters (Travelgate, Filegate, Madison Guaranty, Paula Jones).
Filed the Starr Report
Filed the Starr Report to Congress alleging President Clinton lied under oath about the Lewinsky affair; included explicit evidence (dress, tapes, grand jury testimony).
House of Representatives impeached President Clinton (result of investigation)
Starr's findings were the basis for the House impeachment of President Bill Clinton in December 1998.
Resigned as Independent Counsel and returned to private practice/academia
After about five years as independent counsel, Starr resigned and returned to private practice as an appellate lawyer and visiting professor (NYU, Chapman, George Mason).
Senate acquitted President Clinton
Following the House impeachment, the U.S. Senate acquitted President Clinton; Starr's investigation drew intense public scrutiny.
Published 'First Among Equals: The Supreme Court in American Life'
Published a major book analyzing the Supreme Court.
Expressed regret about Lewinsky investigation role (publicly)
In 2004 Starr said he regretted asking DOJ to assign him to personally oversee the Lewinsky investigation and that someone else ideally should have investigated it.
Named Dean, Pepperdine University School of Law
Appointed Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law at Pepperdine University (in office Aug 1, 2004–June 1, 2010).
Took on death‑penalty case Robin Lovitt pro bono
Worked to overturn the death sentence of Robin Lovitt (case denied cert by Supreme Court Oct 3, 2005).
Filed cert petition in Morse v. Frederick (Bong Hits 4 Jesus)
Announced he would represent the Juneau School Board in appeal to U.S. Supreme Court; later won at Supreme Court on June 21, 2007.
Joined defense team for Jeffrey Epstein
Joined legal team defending Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 during sex‑offense investigations (later controversial plea bargain).
Supreme Court victory in Morse v. Frederick
U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Starr's client, permitting restriction of student speech promoting illegal drug use (opinion by Chief Justice Roberts, June 21, 2007).
Named counsel for Proposition 8 supporters
Took on representation of Prop 8 supporters in post‑election California litigation to the state Supreme Court.
Argued Prop. 8 before California Supreme Court
Argument concerned the status of ~18,000 same‑sex marriages performed prior to Prop 8 (figure referenced in sources).
President's Scholarship Initiative launched and $100M raised
Launched The President's Scholarship Initiative; the three‑year challenge ultimately raised $100 million for student scholarships, reportedly reaching the goal five months ahead.
Announced as Baylor University President
Baylor announced it would introduce Starr as its next president; elected by Board of Regents Feb 12, 2010 and introduced June 1, 2010.
Assumed office as Baylor President
Became the 14th president of Baylor University on June 1, 2010; inauguration held Sept 17, 2010.
Adopted 'Pro Futuris' strategic vision at Baylor
Under Starr's leadership, Baylor's Board adopted the Pro Futuris strategic vision for the university (May 11, 2012).
Named Chancellor of Baylor University
Named Baylor University chancellor in addition to being president — first person to hold both positions concurrently.
Baylor enrollment and campus construction milestones
During Starr's tenure Baylor completed major projects: McLane Stadium ($260M), Clyde Hart Track ($18.1M), Paul L. Foster Business Campus ($100M). Fall 2015 enrollment reached record 16,787 students.
Pepper Hamilton report delivered to Baylor Board
External review by Pepper Hamilton into Baylor's handling of sexual assault reports was delivered to the Board of Regents (May 13, 2016).
Announced removal as Baylor President
Baylor Board of Regents announced Starr's tenure as president would end May 31, 2016 following the report into mishandling sexual assault allegations.
Resigned as Baylor Chancellor
Resigned the chancellor role effective immediately (June 1, 2016); stated he accepted responsibility.
Resigned Baylor Law professorship (mutually agreed separation)
Announced resignation from tenured professor position (Louise L. Morrison Chair of Constitutional Law) at Baylor Law School and severed formal ties.
Published 'Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation'
Published a memoir reflecting on the independent counsel investigation of President Clinton.
Joined President Trump's impeachment defense team
Announced as a member of President Donald Trump's legal team for his first Senate impeachment trial; argued before the Senate Jan 27, 2020.
Published 'Religious Liberty in Crisis'
Published Religious Liberty in Crisis: Exercising Your Faith in an Age of Uncertainty (2021).
Condemned Trump's second impeachment
Publicly called the second impeachment of Donald Trump 'dangerous' and 'unconstitutional' (February 2021 commentary).
Hospitalized at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Admitted to Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston for an unspecified illness (May 2022).
Died in Houston, Texas
Died from complications following surgery at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center on September 13, 2022.
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