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{{Short description|American judge (1930–2020)}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|birth_name=William Steele Sessions {{Other people|William Sessions}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
| name =William S. Sessions
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =William S. Sessions.jpg
| imagesize =220px | name = Bill Sessions
| smallimage = | image = William S. Sessions.jpg
| caption = | office = 4th ]
| deputy = ]
| order =4th ] of the ]
| president = ]<br>]<br>]
| term_start =November 2, 1987
| term_end =July 19, 1993 | term_start = November 2, 1987
| vicepresident = | term_end = July 19, 1993
| predecessor = ]
| viceprimeminister =
| deputy = | successor = ]
| office1 = Chief Judge of the ]
| president = ]<br>]<br>]
| primeminister = | term_start1 = 1980
| term_end1 = 1987
| predecessor =] <small>(Acting)</small>
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor =] <small>(Acting)</small>
| order2 = | successor1 = ]
| office2 = Judge of the ]
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 = | term_start2 = December 20, 1974
| term_end2 = November 1, 1987
| vicepresident2 =
| appointer2 = ]
| viceprimeminister2 =
| predecessor2 = ]
| deputy2 =
| president2 = | successor2 = ]
| office3 = ] for the ]
| primeminister2 =
| predecessor2 = | term_start3 = 1971
| successor2 = | term_end3 = 1974
| order3 = | appointer3 = ]
| predecessor3 = Segal Wheatley
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 = | successor3 = Hugh Shovlin
| birth_name = William Steele Sessions
| vicepresident3 =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|05|27}}
| viceprimeminister3 =
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| deputy3 =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|12|1930|05|27}}
| president3 =
| death_place = ], U.S.
| primeminister3 =
| party = ]
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 = | spouse = {{marriage|Alice Lewis|1952|2019|end=d.}}
| order4 = | children = 4, including ]
| education = ] (], ])
| term_start4 =
| term_end4 =
| vicepresident4 =
| viceprimeminister4 =
| deputy4 =
| president4 =
| primeminister4 =
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1930|5|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place =], ]
| death_date =
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| signature =
| footnotes =
}} }}
'''William Steele Sessions''' (born May 27, 1930) is an American civil servant who served as a judge and fourth Director of the ]. Sessions served as FBI director from 1987 to 1993, when he was dismissed by President ].


'''William Steele Sessions''' (May 27, 1930{{spnd}}June 12, 2020) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a ] of the ] and the fourth Director of the ]. Sessions served as FBI director from 1987 to 1993, when he was dismissed by President ]. After leaving the public sector, Sessions represented ], international leader of the ]. He is the father of Texas Congressman ].
==Early life==
Sessions was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Edith A. (née Steele) and Rev. Will Anderson Sessions, Jr.<ref>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/sessions.htm</ref> He graduated from Northeast High School in ], in 1948, and enlisted in the United States Air Force, receiving his commission October 1952. He served on active duty until October 1955. He attended ] where he received a ] degree in 1956 and an ] degree in 1958.


==Early life and education==
Sessions is an ] and recipient of the ] from the ]. The Scouting tradition runs deep in the Sessions' lineage &ndash; his son, ] (a member of the ] serving Texas' 32nd District), is also a Distinguished Eagle Scout, his grandsons Bill and Steele are also Eagle Scouts, and his father, William A. Sessions, Jr. wrote the first ''God and Country'' handbook for the ].<ref name="honor">{{cite book | last = Townley | first = Alvin | authorlink = | coauthors = |url= http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com/TD_TitleDetail.aspx?ISBN=0312366531| title = Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts | publisher = St. Martin's Press| location = New York | pages =241–252| isbn = 0-312-36653-1 |accessdate= 2006-12-29}}</ref><ref name="desalista">{{cite web |url = http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf |title = Distinguished Eagle Scouts |publisher = Scouting.org|accessdate = 2010-11-04}}</ref>
Sessions was born in ], ], the son of Edith A. (née Steele) and the Reverend Will Anderson Sessions Jr.<ref>, freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.</ref> He graduated from ] in ], ], in 1948, and enlisted in the ], receiving his commission October 1952. He served on active duty until October 1955. He attended ] in ], Texas, where he received a ] degree in 1956. He received a ] in 1958 from ].<ref name="auto">{{FJC Bio|2146|nid=1387606|name=William Steele Sessions (1930–) }}</ref> At Baylor, Sessions became a member of the ] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni|url=https://www.longbeachdeltachi.com/alumni|access-date=June 12, 2020|work=Delta Chi at CSU Long Beach|publisher=Delta Chi}}</ref> He was an ] and recipient of the ] from the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Distinguished Eagle Scout Award|url=http://www.pikespeakbsa.org/Scouting/Awards/Service/Distinguished-Eagle-Award|access-date=June 12, 2020|work=Pikes Peak Council|publisher=Boy Scouts of America}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Halter|first1=Jon C.|date=September 1999|title=Love Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BP0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|magazine=Scouting|publisher=Boy Scouts of America, Inc.|volume=87|issue=4|page=48|issn=0036-9500}}</ref>


==Legal career== ==Career==
=== Law practice ===
Sessions was an attorney for the firm of Haley, Fulbright, Winniford, Sessions, and Bice in ] from 1958 until 1969. He was then appointed Chief of the Government Operations Section, Criminal Division of the ] in ], where he served until his appointment as ] for the Western District of Texas in 1971. In 1974 he was appointed United States District Judge for that district, becoming Chief Judge in 1980. He also served on the Board of the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D C, and on committees of both the State Bar of Texas and the Judicial Conference of the United States. Overall he has been a practicing attorney for more than 40 years. He also is associated with the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law (]/LAW).
Sessions was an attorney for the firm of Haley, Fulbright, Winniford, Sessions, and Bice in ], Texas, from 1963 until 1969. He was then appointed Chief of the Government Operations Section, Criminal Division of the ] in ], where he served until his appointment as ] for the Western District of Texas in 1971.<ref name="auto"/>


===Federal judicial service===
==FBI career==
Sessions was nominated by President ] on December 11, 1974, to a seat on the ] vacated by Judge ]. He was confirmed by the ] on December 19, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. He served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1987. He served as a board member of the ] from 1980 to 1984. His service terminated on November 1, 1987, due to his resignation.<ref name="auto"/>
After a two month search, Sessions was nominated to succeed ] as FBI Director by President ] and was sworn in November 2, 1987.


===FBI Director (1987–1993)===
Sessions was viewed as combining tough direction with fairness and was respected even by the Reagan administration’s critics, although he was sometimes ridiculed as strait-laced and dull and lacking hands-on leadership. He worked to raise the image of the FBI in Congress and fought to raise the pay of FBI agents which had lagged behind other law enforcement agencies.
After a two-month search, Sessions was nominated to succeed ] as FBI Director by President ] and was sworn in on November 2, 1987.<ref name="Atlas"/>


Sessions was viewed as combining tough direction with fairness and was respected even by the Reagan administration's critics, although he was sometimes ridiculed as straitlaced and dull and lacking hands-on leadership. He worked to raise the image of the FBI in Congress and fought to raise the pay of FBI agents, which had lagged behind other law enforcement agencies.<ref name="Atlas"/>
Despite being a Republican who was appointed by Reagan, Sessions disappointed the administration of President ] for not being partisan, and he was personally disliked by Attorney General ]. Sessions had an uneasy relationship with Thornburgh's successor ]. Reflecting the tensions between the Justice Department and the independent Bureau, Sessions announced that the FBI would be looking into whether Justice Department officials illegally misled a federal judge in a politically sensitive bank-fraud case involving loans to Iraq before the ], and 48 hours later Sessions was the subject of an ethics investigation on whether he had abused his office perks.<ref name="Johnston">{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/fbi-chief-plans-to-fight-for-job.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTax%20Evasion | work=The New York Times | first=David | last=Johnston | title=F.B.I. CHIEF PLANS TO FIGHT FOR JOB | date=1993-01-19}}</ref>


Reflecting the tensions between the Justice Department and the independent Bureau, Sessions announced that the FBI would be looking into whether Justice Department officials illegally misled a federal judge in a politically sensitive bank fraud case involving loans to Iraq before the ], and 48 hours later Sessions was the subject of an ethics investigation on whether he had abused his office perks.<ref name="Johnston">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/fbi-chief-plans-to-fight-for-job.html|work=]|first=David|last=Johnston|title=F.B.I. Chief Plans to Fight for Job|date=January 19, 1993}}</ref><ref name="Atlas">{{cite news |first=Terry|last=Atlas|title=FBI Director's Mistakes Slowly Come To Light |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/10/27/fbi-directors-mistakes-slowly-come-to-light/ |work=] |date=October 27, 1992|access-date=May 9, 2017}}</ref>
Sessions enjoyed the strongest support among liberal Democrats in Congress.<ref name="Johnston"/> Sessions was applauded for pursuing a policy of broadening the FBI to include more women and minorities, efforts which upset the "old boys" at the Bureau.


Sessions enjoyed his strongest support among liberal Democrats in Congress.<ref name="Johnston"/><ref name="Atlas"/> Sessions was applauded for pursuing a policy of broadening the FBI to include more women and minorities, efforts which upset the "old boys" at the Bureau.<ref name="Atlas"/>
]" message. This one is from '']''.]]


]" message from '']''.]]
Sessions became associated with the phrase "]", which appeared on idle ] screens during demos or after a player finished playing a game. By law it had to be included on all imported arcade games and continued to appear long after Sessions left office. The quote normally appeared in gold against a blue background between the FBI seal and Sessions' name.


Sessions became associated with the phrase "]", which appeared in the ] of North American–released ]s from 1989 to 2000.<ref name="inverse"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Fed Games|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1993/09/12/fed-games/a3e65747-4b38-4fb5-a162-c1db2c306f51/|first1=Michael J.|last1=Volpe|first2=Mary Beth|last2=Franklin|date=September 12, 1993|access-date=June 12, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> By law, it had to be included on all imported arcade games released in North America, and continued to appear long after Sessions left office. The quote normally appeared in gold against a blue background between the FBI seal and Sessions' name.<ref name="inverse">{{cite news|title=How the F.B.I. Made 'Winners Don't Use Drugs' the Arcade Motto of the '90s|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/5193-how-the-f-b-i-made-winners-don-t-use-drugs-the-arcade-motto-of-the-90s|first=Sean|last=Hutchinson|date=August 19, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=Boy Scouts of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604000906/https://www.inverse.com/article/5193-how-the-f-b-i-made-winners-don-t-use-drugs-the-arcade-motto-of-the-90s|archive-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>
Sessions major contributions to the US Criminal Justice Community include the encouraging of the FBI Laboratory to develop a DNA program with a strong legal underpinning and the automation of the national fingerprint process. The later project, known as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) reduced the turn around time for fingerprint searches for both criminal arrest cycles and applicants for sensitive positions to include teachers from months to hours. A full description of the IAFIS program can be found in Section 2.7 of the book: Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) published by Elsevier, Inc. in 2005; ISBN 0-12-418351-4.


Sessions' major contributions to the US criminal justice community include the encouraging of the FBI laboratory to develop a DNA program with a strong legal underpinning and the automation of the national fingerprint process. The latter project, known as the ] (IAFIS), reduced the turnaround time from months to hours for fingerprint searches for both criminal arrest cycles and applicants for sensitive positions such as teachers.<ref name="Atlas"/>
Sessions was FBI director during the controversial 1992 confrontation at ], ], at which the unarmed Vicky Weaver and her son were shot dead by an FBI sniper. This incident provoked heavy criticism of the Bureau as did the ] ] church that lasted from February 28 to April 19, 1993. These incidents were also related to the discovery of severe procedural shortcomings at the FBI's crime laboratory.


Sessions's final years as FBI director were marked by two highly controversial incidents: the 1992 ], during which an unarmed woman, Vicki Weaver, was killed by an FBI sniper, ], while she was holding a 10-month-old baby;<ref name="People">{{cite journal|author1=Hewitt, Bill |author2=Nelson, Margaret |author3=Haederle, Michael |author4=Slavin, Barbara |date=September 25, 1995|title=A Time to Heal|journal=]|volume=45|issue=13|url=http://people.com/archive/a-time-of-heal-vol-45-no-13/|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name=IdahoVHoriuchi1>{{cite court|litigants=State of Idaho v. Lon T. Horiuchi |court=9th Cir.|date=June 5, 2001|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/9830149p.pdf |access-date=|via=Findlaw.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=Ruby Ridge|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruby-ridge/|last=Goodman|first=Barak|access-date=July 23, 2017|series=American Experience|season=29|number=6|series-link=American Experience|network=PBS|date=February 14, 2017|time=30:00}}</ref> and the 1993 ], which resulted in the deaths of 82 ], including 28 children.<ref name=Danner>{{cite news |title=Former FBI director, wife call off San Antonio divorce |url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Former-FBI-director-wife-call-off-San-Antonio-14562868.php |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |first=Patrick |last=Danner |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News}}</ref> The Ruby Ridge standoff and the Waco siege were later cited as motivations for the ], the deadliest act of terrorism in U.S. history before the ].<ref name="Sympathizers">{{cite news |last=Feldman |first=Paul |title=Militia Groups Growing, Study Says Extremism: Despite negative publicity since Oklahoma bombing, membership has risen, Anti-Defamation League finds |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21526848.html?dids=21526848:21526848&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+18%2C+1995&author=PAUL+FELDMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Militia+Groups+Growing%2C+Study+Says+Extremism%3A+Despite+negative+publicity+since+Oklahoma+bombing%2C+membership+has+risen%2C+Anti-Defamation+League+finds.&pqatl=google |url-access=subscription |date=June 18, 1995|work=]|access-date=April 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725072443/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21526848.html?dids=21526848:21526848&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+18%2C+1995&author=PAUL+FELDMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Militia+Groups+Growing%2C+Study+Says+Extremism%3A+Despite+negative+publicity+since+Oklahoma+bombing%2C+membership+has+risen%2C+Anti-Defamation+League+finds.&pqatl=google|archive-date=July 25, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WacoRubyMcN">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=McVeigh offers little remorse in letters |url=http://www.cjonline.com/stories/061001/new_mcveigh.shtml |date=June 10, 2001 |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527165230/http://cjonline.com/stories/061001/new_mcveigh.shtml |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 1, 2009 }}</ref>
Just before ] was inaugurated as the 42nd ] on January 20, 1993, allegations of ethical improprieties were made against Sessions. A report by outgoing Attorney General ] presented to the ] that month by the ] included criticisms that he had used an FBI plane to travel to visit his daughter on several occasions, and had a security system installed in his home at government expense.<ref name="Johnston"/> ], the 78th ] of the ], announced that Sessions had exhibited "serious deficiencies in judgment."<ref name="Time's Up for William Sessions">{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/22/opinion/time-s-up-for-william-sessions.html | work=The New York Times | title=Time's Up for William Sessions | date=1993-01-22}}</ref>


==== Allegations of ethics violations and dismissal ====
Although Sessions denied that he had acted improperly, he was pressured to resign in early July, with some suggesting that President Clinton was giving Sessions the chance to step down in a dignified manner. Session refused, saying that he had done nothing wrong, and insisted on staying in office until his successor was confirmed. As a result, President Clinton used his powers to dismiss Sessions immediately on July 19, 1993.<ref name="Time's Up for William Sessions"/> Sessions was five and a half years into a ten-year term as FBI director; however, the holder of this post serves at the pleasure of the President.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-20/news/mn-15006_1_law-enforcement-agencies | work=Los Angeles Times | first1=Ronald J. | last1=Ostrow | first2=Robert L. | last2=Jackson | title=Defiant FBI Chief Is Fired by President : Law enforcement: Alleged ethical abuses by Sessions are cited as reason for dismissal. He refused to resign | date=1993-07-20}}</ref>
Just before ] was inaugurated as the 42nd ] on January 20, 1993, allegations of ethical improprieties were made against Sessions. A report by outgoing Attorney General ] presented to the ] that month by the ] included criticisms that he had used an FBI plane to travel to visit his daughter on several occasions, and had a security system installed in his home at government expense.<ref name="Johnston"/> ], the 78th ], announced that Sessions had exhibited "serious deficiencies in judgment".<ref name="Time's Up for William Sessions">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/22/opinion/time-s-up-for-william-sessions.html | work=] | title=Time's Up for William Sessions |department=Opinion |date=January 22, 1993}}</ref>


Although Sessions denied that he had acted improperly, he was pressured to resign in early July, with some suggesting that Clinton was giving Sessions the chance to step down in a dignified manner. Sessions refused, saying that he had done nothing wrong, and insisted on staying in office until his successor was confirmed. As a result, Clinton ] on July 19, 1993. Sessions was five and a half years into a ten-year term as FBI director; however, the holder of this post serves ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-20-mn-15006-story.html | work=] |first1=Ronald J. |last1=Ostrow |first2=Robert L. |last2=Jackson |title=Defiant FBI Chief Is Fired by President: Law enforcement: Alleged ethical abuses by Sessions are cited as reason for dismissal. He refused to resign |date=July 20, 1993}}</ref>
Clinton nominated ] to the FBI directorship at a ] ceremony on July 20. Then-FBI Deputy Director ], whom Sessions suggested had led a coup to force his removal, served as Acting Director until September 1, 1993 when Freeh was sworn in.
Clinton nominated ] to the FBI directorship on July 20, 1993. Then–FBI Deputy Director ], who Sessions suggested had led a coup to force his removal, served as Acting Director until September 1, 1993, when Freeh was sworn in.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Johnston|date=July 20, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/20/us/defiant-fbi-chief-removed-from-job-by-the-president.html|title=Defiant FBI chief removed from job by the President|website=]}}</ref>


Sessions returned to Texas where on December 7, 1999 he was named the state chair of Texas Exile, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing gun crime. Sessions returned to Texas where on December 7, 1999, he was named the state chair of Texas Exile, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing gun crime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Campaign Finance: Some Assembly Required |url=https://www.texastribune.org/1999/12/13/campaign-finance-some-assembly-required/ |date=December 13, 1999 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |first=Ross |last=Ramsey |newspaper=]}}</ref>


==Later in life== ===Later career===
William Sessions was the American attorney of ], the "boss of bosses" of the ], and a member of the ] list, with close ties to ].{{sfn|Unger|2018|p=218}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Heffernan |first=Virginia |author-link=Virginia Heffernan |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-heffernan-simpson-russia-testimony-20180114-story.html |title=Column: A close reading of Glenn Simpson's Trump-Russia testimony |work=] |date=January 14, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Glenn R.|last2=Jacoby|first2=Mary|date=April 17, 2007|title=How Lobbyists Help Ex-Soviets Woo Washington|language=en-US|work=]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117674837248471543|access-date=2021-03-26|issn=0099-9660|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170709042737/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117674837248471543|archivedate=July 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Judge Sessions is a member of the ] and has served as an officer or on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association of San Antonio, the ], the San Antonio Bar Association, the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, and the District Judges' Association of the Fifth Circuit. He was appointed by President Reagan as a Commissioner of the ], Federal Holiday Commission, and was a Delegate for the Americas to the Executive Committee of ]. He is also a member of the ]'s bipartisan Liberty and Security Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 |title=Constitution Project: Liberty and Security Initiative |publisher=Constitutionproject.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-07 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080626065937/http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 |archivedate = 2008-06-26}}</ref>


Sessions was a member of the ] and had served as an officer or on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association of San Antonio, the ], the San Antonio Bar Association, the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, and the District Judges' Association of the Fifth Circuit. He was appointed by Reagan as a Commissioner of the ], Federal Holiday Commission, and was a Delegate for the Americas to the Executive Committee of ]. He was also a member of the ]'s bipartisan Liberty and Security Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 |title=Constitution Project: Liberty and Security Initiative |publisher=Constitutionproject.org |access-date=September 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626065937/http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 |archive-date = June 26, 2008}}</ref>
In 2006, Mr. Sessions also was present on the ] task force examining the constitutionality of controversial presidential ], which concluded that the practice "does grave harm to the separation of powers doctrine, and the system of checks and balances that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries".


In 2008, he argued that the execution of ] should not proceed because of serious doubts as to whether Davis is actually guilty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12689946 |title=A trebly dubious death sentence &#124; Reasonable doubt |publisher=The Economist |date=2008-04-24 |accessdate=2009-01-22}}</ref> Sessions was present on the ] task force examining the constitutionality of controversial presidential ]. It concluded in July 2006 that the practice "does grave harm to the ] doctrine, and the system of ] that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries".<ref>{{cite news|title=Bar Association: Bush Oversteps Power|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bar-association-bush-oversteps-power/|date=July 24, 2006|access-date=June 12, 2020|agency=]|website=]}}</ref> In 2008, he argued that the execution of ] should not proceed because of serious doubts as Davis' guilt.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12689946 |title=A trebly dubious death sentence &#124; Reasonable doubt |website=] |date=April 24, 2008 |access-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Sessions agreed to serve on ] in December 2010.<ref name="TcpPressRelease2010-12-17">
{{cite news|url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/|title=Task Force on Detainee Treatment Launched|publisher=]|date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215120344/http://constitutionproject.org/|url-status=live|archive-date=December 15, 2010}}
</ref><ref name="WallStreetJournal2010-12-17">
{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/APc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611.html|title=Think tank plans study of how US treats detainees|publisher=]|date=December 17, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20101219013031/http://online.wsj.com/article/APc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611.html|archive-date=December 19, 2010|url-status=dead|quote=Former FBI Director William Sessions, former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a retired Army general and a retired appeals court judge in Washington are among 11 people selected for a task force that will meet for the first time in early January, said Virginia Sloan, a lawyer and president of The Constitution Project.}}</ref><ref name="TcpGtfMembers2010-12-17">{{cite news|url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/TF_Members_Dec%20132010.pdf|title=Task Force members|publisher=]|date=December 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725192624/http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/TF_Members_Dec%20132010.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref>


He died less than two months after two former Acting FBI Directors, ], and ], and 6.5 months after another Acting FBI Director, ].
Sessions agreed to serve on ] in December 2010.<ref name=TcpPressRelease2010-12-17>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.constitutionproject.org/
| title = Task Force on Detainee Treatment Launched
| publisher = ]
| date = 2010-12-17
| author =
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.constitutionproject.org%2F&date=2010-12-18
| archivedate = 2010-12-18
| page =
| quote =
}}
</ref><ref name=WallStreetJournal2010-12-17>
{{cite news
| url = http://online.wsj.com/article/APc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611.html
| title = Think tank plans study of how US treats detainees
| publisher = ]
| date = 2010-12-17
| author =
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FAPc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611.html&date=2010-12-18
| archivedate = 2010-12-18
| page =
| quote = Former FBI Director William Sessions, former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a retired Army general and a retired appeals court judge in Washington are among 11 people selected for a task force that will meet for the first time in early January, said Virginia Sloan, a lawyer and president of The Constitution Project.
}}
</ref><ref name=TcpGtfMembers2010-12-17>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/TF_Members_Dec%20132010.pdf
| title = Task Force members
| publisher = ]
| date = 2010-12-17
| author =
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.constitutionproject.org%2Fpdf%2FTF_Members_Dec%2520132010.pdf&date=2010-12-18
| archivedate = 2010-12-18
| page =
| quote =
}}
</ref>


==Personal life and death==
==References==
Sessions married Alice Lewis, his high school classmate, in 1952. Together, they had four children: William L., ], Mark, and Sara. He filed for divorce on February 20, 2018, but this was dismissed without ] on October 11, 2019.<ref name=Danner/> Alice died on December 21, 2019 at their home in Washington, D.C.<ref name=MacCormack>{{cite news|title=Bill Sessions: former prosecutor, judge and FBI director, dies at 90|url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Bill-Sessions-Former-prosecutor-judge-and-FBI-15336506.php|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2020|first=John|last=MacCormack|newspaper=]}}</ref>
{{reflist|2}}


Sessions was unrelated to ], U.S. Attorney General (2017-2018).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |title=Biography of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama |website=senate.gov |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=November 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126075602/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |archive-date=November 26, 2016 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>
==External links==

*
Sessions died on June 12, 2020, at his home in ] from complications of ].<ref name=MacCormack/> He was 90.<ref>{{cite news|title=William S. Sessions, FBI director who battled agency's old guard, dies at 90|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/william-s-sessions-fbi-director-who-battled-agencys-old-guard-dies-at-90/2020/06/12/2095aa5a-ad01-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.html|first=Paul W.|last=Valentine|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2020|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/us/william-s-sessions-dead.html|title=William S. Sessions, F.B.I. Director at a Turbulent Time, Dies at 90|first=Robert D.|last=McFadden|newspaper=] |date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>


==Sources== == Citations ==
{{FJC Bio|2146}} {{Reflist}}

== General and cited references ==
* {{FJC Bio|2146|nid=1387606|name=William Steele Sessions<!--(1930–)-->}}
* {{cite web * {{cite web
| title = Federal Bureau of Investigation: Directors, Then and Now | title = Federal Bureau of Investigation: Directors, Then and Now
| url = http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/sessions.htm | url = https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-s-sessions
| access-date = May 10, 2017 }}
| accessdate = 2010-04-26 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
*{{cite book |last=Unger |first=Craig |author-link=Craig Unger |title=House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia |publisher=] |date=August 14, 2018 |isbn=978-1524743505}}

==External links==
* {{C-SPAN|364}}

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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME =Sessions, William Steele
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American judge
| DATE OF BIRTH =May 27, 1930
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sessions, William Steele}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sessions, William Steele}}
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Latest revision as of 06:05, 12 December 2024

American judge (1930–2020) For other people named William Sessions, see William Sessions (disambiguation).

Bill Sessions
4th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
In office
November 2, 1987 – July 19, 1993
PresidentRonald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
DeputyFloyd I. Clarke
Preceded byWilliam H. Webster
Succeeded byLouis Freeh
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office
1980–1987
Preceded byJack Roberts
Succeeded byLucius Desha Bunton III
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office
December 20, 1974 – November 1, 1987
Appointed byGerald Ford
Preceded byErnest Allen Guinn
Succeeded byEmilio M. Garza
United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas
In office
1971–1974
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded bySegal Wheatley
Succeeded byHugh Shovlin
Personal details
BornWilliam Steele Sessions
(1930-05-27)May 27, 1930
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 2020(2020-06-12) (aged 90)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse Alice Lewis ​ ​(m. 1952; died 2019)​
Children4, including Pete
EducationBaylor University (BA, LLB)

William Steele Sessions (May 27, 1930 – June 12, 2020) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and the fourth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sessions served as FBI director from 1987 to 1993, when he was dismissed by President Bill Clinton. After leaving the public sector, Sessions represented Semion Mogilevich, international leader of the Russian mafia. He is the father of Texas Congressman Pete Sessions.

Early life and education

Sessions was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Edith A. (née Steele) and the Reverend Will Anderson Sessions Jr. He graduated from Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1948, and enlisted in the United States Air Force, receiving his commission October 1952. He served on active duty until October 1955. He attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. He received a Bachelor of Laws in 1958 from Baylor Law School. At Baylor, Sessions became a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. He was an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Career

Law practice

Sessions was an attorney for the firm of Haley, Fulbright, Winniford, Sessions, and Bice in Waco, Texas, from 1963 until 1969. He was then appointed Chief of the Government Operations Section, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he served until his appointment as United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas in 1971.

Federal judicial service

Sessions was nominated by President Gerald Ford on December 11, 1974, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated by Judge Ernest Allen Guinn. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 19, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. He served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1987. He served as a board member of the Federal Judicial Center from 1980 to 1984. His service terminated on November 1, 1987, due to his resignation.

FBI Director (1987–1993)

After a two-month search, Sessions was nominated to succeed William H. Webster as FBI Director by President Ronald Reagan and was sworn in on November 2, 1987.

Sessions was viewed as combining tough direction with fairness and was respected even by the Reagan administration's critics, although he was sometimes ridiculed as straitlaced and dull and lacking hands-on leadership. He worked to raise the image of the FBI in Congress and fought to raise the pay of FBI agents, which had lagged behind other law enforcement agencies.

Reflecting the tensions between the Justice Department and the independent Bureau, Sessions announced that the FBI would be looking into whether Justice Department officials illegally misled a federal judge in a politically sensitive bank fraud case involving loans to Iraq before the Persian Gulf War, and 48 hours later Sessions was the subject of an ethics investigation on whether he had abused his office perks.

Sessions enjoyed his strongest support among liberal Democrats in Congress. Sessions was applauded for pursuing a policy of broadening the FBI to include more women and minorities, efforts which upset the "old boys" at the Bureau.

Sample "Winners Don't Use Drugs" message from Golden Axe.

Sessions became associated with the phrase "Winners Don't Use Drugs", which appeared in the attract mode of North American–released arcade games from 1989 to 2000. By law, it had to be included on all imported arcade games released in North America, and continued to appear long after Sessions left office. The quote normally appeared in gold against a blue background between the FBI seal and Sessions' name.

Sessions' major contributions to the US criminal justice community include the encouraging of the FBI laboratory to develop a DNA program with a strong legal underpinning and the automation of the national fingerprint process. The latter project, known as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), reduced the turnaround time from months to hours for fingerprint searches for both criminal arrest cycles and applicants for sensitive positions such as teachers.

Sessions's final years as FBI director were marked by two highly controversial incidents: the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff, during which an unarmed woman, Vicki Weaver, was killed by an FBI sniper, Lon Horiuchi, while she was holding a 10-month-old baby; and the 1993 Waco siege, which resulted in the deaths of 82 Branch Davidians, including 28 children. The Ruby Ridge standoff and the Waco siege were later cited as motivations for the Oklahoma City bombing, the deadliest act of terrorism in U.S. history before the September 11 attacks.

Allegations of ethics violations and dismissal

Just before Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993, allegations of ethical improprieties were made against Sessions. A report by outgoing Attorney General William P. Barr presented to the Justice Department that month by the Office of Professional Responsibility included criticisms that he had used an FBI plane to travel to visit his daughter on several occasions, and had a security system installed in his home at government expense. Janet Reno, the 78th Attorney General of the United States, announced that Sessions had exhibited "serious deficiencies in judgment".

Although Sessions denied that he had acted improperly, he was pressured to resign in early July, with some suggesting that Clinton was giving Sessions the chance to step down in a dignified manner. Sessions refused, saying that he had done nothing wrong, and insisted on staying in office until his successor was confirmed. As a result, Clinton dismissed Sessions on July 19, 1993. Sessions was five and a half years into a ten-year term as FBI director; however, the holder of this post serves at the pleasure of the President.

Clinton nominated Louis Freeh to the FBI directorship on July 20, 1993. Then–FBI Deputy Director Floyd I. Clarke, who Sessions suggested had led a coup to force his removal, served as Acting Director until September 1, 1993, when Freeh was sworn in.

Sessions returned to Texas where on December 7, 1999, he was named the state chair of Texas Exile, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing gun crime.

Later career

William Sessions was the American attorney of Semion Mogilevich, the "boss of bosses" of the Russian mafia, and a member of the FBI Most Wanted Fugitives list, with close ties to Vladimir Putin.

Sessions was a member of the American Bar Association and had served as an officer or on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association of San Antonio, the American Judicature Society, the San Antonio Bar Association, the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, and the District Judges' Association of the Fifth Circuit. He was appointed by Reagan as a Commissioner of the Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday Commission, and was a Delegate for the Americas to the Executive Committee of ICPO-Interpol. He was also a member of the Constitution Project's bipartisan Liberty and Security Committee.

Sessions was present on the American Bar Association task force examining the constitutionality of controversial presidential signing statements. It concluded in July 2006 that the practice "does grave harm to the separation of powers doctrine, and the system of checks and balances that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries". In 2008, he argued that the execution of Troy Anthony Davis should not proceed because of serious doubts as Davis' guilt. Sessions agreed to serve on The Constitution Project's Guantanamo Task Force in December 2010.

He died less than two months after two former Acting FBI Directors, James B. Adams, and John E. Otto, and 6.5 months after another Acting FBI Director, William Ruckelshaus.

Personal life and death

Sessions married Alice Lewis, his high school classmate, in 1952. Together, they had four children: William L., Pete, Mark, and Sara. He filed for divorce on February 20, 2018, but this was dismissed without prejudice on October 11, 2019. Alice died on December 21, 2019 at their home in Washington, D.C.

Sessions was unrelated to Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General (2017-2018).

Sessions died on June 12, 2020, at his home in San Antonio from complications of heart failure. He was 90.

Citations

  1. "Sessions", freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
  2. ^ William Steele Sessions (1930–) at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. "Alumni". Delta Chi at CSU Long Beach. Delta Chi. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  4. "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award". Pikes Peak Council. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. Halter, Jon C. (September 1999). "Love Jones". Scouting. Vol. 87, no. 4. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. p. 48. ISSN 0036-9500.
  6. ^ Atlas, Terry (October 27, 1992). "FBI Director's Mistakes Slowly Come To Light". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Johnston, David (January 19, 1993). "F.B.I. Chief Plans to Fight for Job". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Sean (August 19, 2015). "How the F.B.I. Made 'Winners Don't Use Drugs' the Arcade Motto of the '90s". Boy Scouts of America. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  9. Volpe, Michael J.; Franklin, Mary Beth (September 12, 1993). "Fed Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  10. Hewitt, Bill; Nelson, Margaret; Haederle, Michael; Slavin, Barbara (September 25, 1995). "A Time to Heal". People. 45 (13). Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  11. State of Idaho v. Lon T. Horiuchi (9th Cir. June 5, 2001), Text.
  12. Goodman, Barak (February 14, 2017). "Ruby Ridge". American Experience. Season 29. Episode 6. Event occurs at 30:00. PBS. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  13. ^ Danner, Patrick (October 25, 2019). "Former FBI director, wife call off San Antonio divorce". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  14. Feldman, Paul (June 18, 1995). "Militia Groups Growing, Study Says Extremism: Despite negative publicity since Oklahoma bombing, membership has risen, Anti-Defamation League finds". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  15. "McVeigh offers little remorse in letters". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Associated Press. June 10, 2001. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  16. "Time's Up for William Sessions". Opinion. The New York Times. January 22, 1993.
  17. Ostrow, Ronald J.; Jackson, Robert L. (July 20, 1993). "Defiant FBI Chief Is Fired by President: Law enforcement: Alleged ethical abuses by Sessions are cited as reason for dismissal. He refused to resign". Los Angeles Times.
  18. Johnston, David (July 20, 1993). "Defiant FBI chief removed from job by the President". The New York Times.
  19. Ramsey, Ross (December 13, 1999). "Campaign Finance: Some Assembly Required". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  20. Unger 2018, p. 218.
  21. Heffernan, Virginia (January 14, 2018). "Column: A close reading of Glenn Simpson's Trump-Russia testimony". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  22. Simpson, Glenn R.; Jacoby, Mary (April 17, 2007). "How Lobbyists Help Ex-Soviets Woo Washington". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  23. "Constitution Project: Liberty and Security Initiative". Constitutionproject.org. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  24. "Bar Association: Bush Oversteps Power". CBS News. Associated Press. July 24, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  25. "A trebly dubious death sentence | Reasonable doubt". The Economist. April 24, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
  26. "Task Force on Detainee Treatment Launched". The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010.
  27. "Think tank plans study of how US treats detainees". Wall Street Journal. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Former FBI Director William Sessions, former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a retired Army general and a retired appeals court judge in Washington are among 11 people selected for a task force that will meet for the first time in early January, said Virginia Sloan, a lawyer and president of The Constitution Project.
  28. "Task Force members" (PDF). The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2011.
  29. ^ MacCormack, John (June 12, 2020). "Bill Sessions: former prosecutor, judge and FBI director, dies at 90". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  30. "Biography of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama". senate.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  31. Valentine, Paul W. (June 12, 2020). "William S. Sessions, FBI director who battled agency's old guard, dies at 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  32. McFadden, Robert D. (June 12, 2020). "William S. Sessions, F.B.I. Director at a Turbulent Time, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2020.

General and cited references

External links

Legal offices
Preceded byErnest Allen Guinn Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
1974–1987 		Succeeded byEmilio M. Garza
Preceded byJack Roberts Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
1980–1987 		Succeeded byLucius Desha Bunton III
Government offices
Preceded byJohn E. Otto
Acting 		4th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
1987–1993 		Succeeded byFloyd I. Clarke
Acting
Directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau
of Investigation
Italics denotes an Acting Director.
Categories: