The fluid film lubrication equation for a zero-speed, orifice-compensated, multipocket hydrostatic journal bearing is solved by a finite element method for determining its steady-state performance and the dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients. These coefficients of the film influence the response of the shaft-bearing system. Performance data have been computed for a four-pocket bearing of L/D = 1.0, with various orifice design parameters and eccentricity ratios. For stability studies, critical mass for the linearized system has been determined by Routh's criterion. By discretizing time and using the Runge-Kutta method, motion trajectories of the journal center have been theoretically determined for a small arbitrary initial disturbance.