Henry Mitchell and Donna Mitchell, Individually, and as Next Friend for William Devon Mitchell v. John McBryde and Scott WigginsHenry Mitchell and Donna Mitchell, Individually, and as Next Friend for William Devon Mitchell v. John McBryde and Scott Wiggins
- Reporters:
- Before:
- Garwood
Plaintiffs-appellants Henry and Donna Mitchell, individually and on behalf of a minor, William Mitchell (the Mitchells) filed a pro se complaint for five million dollars in damages against a federal district judge, Judge John McBryde, and his law clerk, Scott Wiggins, and demanded a jury trial. The gravamen of their complaint is the judge maliciously conspired with his law clerk to set aside a default judgment obtained by the Mitchells in a prior lawsuit pending in Judge McBryde’s court.
The defendants, pleading the doctrine of judicial immunity, filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to
Finding that the actions complained of were within the scope of judicial duties and, therefore, that the judge and his law clerk were absolutely immune from this damage suit, the district court, Judge Ma-hon, dismissed the Mitchells’ complaint pursuant to
In reviewing a
The Mitchells’ argument is incoherent. They contend that the judge’s “inexcusable neglect” constituted “fraud” . . . “which resulted in violations of plaintiffs rights for the benefit of an adverse party,” and that their complaint should not have been dismissed “on the grounds that it was dismissed.” Their further contention that, because they demanded five million dollars damages in their complaint and “[a] claim is a demand for money,” their complaint could not be dismissed for failure to state a claim, is patently absurd.
The Mitchells contend, without further argument, that the judge and his law clerk “are not entitled to absolute immunity, for no man is above the law, not Richard Nixon, Alcee Hasting and not John Mcbryde, [sic] and Scott Wiggins.”
Judges are immune from damage claims arising out of acts performed in the exercise of their judicial functions, even when the judge is accused of acting maliciously. McAlester v. Brown, 469 F.2d 1280, 1282 (5th Cir.1972); Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 359, 98 S.Ct. 1099, 55 L.Ed.2d 331 (1978). Clearly, the judge was acting within his judicial capacity in his rulings in the Mitchells’ prior lawsuit. The Mitchells do not argue otherwise. The fact that it is alleged that the judge acted pursuant to a conspiracy and committed grave procedural errors is not sufficient to avoid absolute judicial immunity. Holloway v. Walker, 765 F.2d 517, 522 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1037, 106 S.Ct. 605, 88 L.Ed.2d 583 (1985); Adams v. McIlhany, 764 F.2d 294, 298 (5th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1101, 106 S.Ct. 883, 88 L.Ed.2d 918 (1986). The judge is absolutely immune for all judicial acts “not performed in clear absence of all jurisdiction, however erroneous the act and however evil the motive.” Johnson v. Kegans, 870 F.2d 992, 995 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 921, 109 S.Ct. 3250, 106 L.Ed.2d 596 (1989).
Although we have not specifically so ruled, it is plain from the reasoning underlying our prior decisions that the judge’s law clerk, when assisting the judge in carrying out the former’s judicial functions, is likewise entitled to absolute immunity.
See, e.g., Johnson,
870 F.2d at 995-997 (examples of those entitled to absolute judicial or prosecutorial immunity);
Freeze v. Griffith,
849 F.2d 172 at 175 (5th Cir.1988) (probation officer in reference to presentence report);
Spaulding v. Nielson,
599 F.2d 728, 729 (5th Cir.1979) (same). On
The Mitchells are apparently trying to have the prior lawsuit revised in the guise of a damage suit against the judge and his law clerk. In any event, it is entirely clear that the defendants enjoy absolute immunity, and the district judge correctly granted their motion to dismiss on that basis. The judgment is accordingly
AFFIRMED.