Case Information
*1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MONTGOMERY BLAIR SIBLEY,
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action No. 13-319 (JDB) JUDITH N. MACALUSO, et al.,
Defendants. MEMORANDUM OPINION
This case arises out of two unrelated legal matters that plaintiff Montgomery Blair Sibley brought before the D.C. Superior Court and D.C. Court of Appeals. Dissatisfied with various aspects of both matters, Sibley sued D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith N. Macaluso (“Judge Macaluso”), judges on the D.C. Court of Appeals (“Court of Appeals judges”), and “Jane Doe” – an unidentified D.C. Court of Appeals clerk. Sibley seeks monetary damages and declaratory relief from both Judge Macaluso and the Court of Appeals judges, and just monetary damages from “Jane Doe.” Before the Court is defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and for lack of standing. For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant the motion to dismiss.
BACKGROUND
Pro se plaintiff Sibley is a resident of the District of Columbia and a frequent filer of lawsuits. After initiating separate cases in the D.C. Superior Court and D.C. Court of Appeals, he filed suit in this Court relating to events that transpired in the two other lawsuits.
I. Claims against Judge Macaluso arising from the St. Albans matter Sibley filed a civil action against St. Albans School, the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the Protestant Episcoрal Cathedral Foundation (the “St. Albans matter”) in D.C. Superior Court on April 6, 2010. See Am. Compl. [Docket Entry 2] ¶ 8(a) (Mar. 21, 2013). The St. Albans matter was assigned to Judge Macaluso. See id. Sibley alleges that, on May 8, 2012, he requested in writing that Judge Macaluso produce a copy of her trial calendar. See id. ¶ 8(c). Sibley further alleges that he received no response from Judge Macaluso. See id. ¶ 8(d). At a hearing on the St. Albans matter on June 15, 2012, Sibley again requested – by oral motion – that Judge Macaluso release a copy of her trial calendar. See id. Judge Macaluso denied the motion. See id. Sibley claims that Judge Macaluso deprived him of his First Amendment rights and requests nominal, actual, and punitive damages totaling $1,075,001.00 as well as a declaratory judgment against Judge Macaluso. See id. ¶¶ 11-13, 15-17.
II. Claims against the Court of Appeals judges and “Jane Doe” arising from the BOEE matter
Sibley’s claims against the Court of Appeals judges and “Jane Doe” stem from a suit he filed against the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics (“the BOEE matter”) on November 30, 2012. See id. ¶ 9(a). The BOEE matter sought to challenge the ability of President Obama to continue to hold the office of president. See Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss (“Defs.’ Mot.”) [Docket Entry 6] at 3 (Apr. 11, 2013). At the same time he filed the BOEE matter, Sibley filed a motion for expedited briefing, oral argument, and resolution, asserting that “[t]ime is *3 plainly of the essence: The next President of the United States is due to be sworn into that office on January 20, 2013 – some short fifty-one (51) days away. The importance of a prompt resolution of the federal constitutional questions presented by this case cannot be overstated.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 9(a) (emphasis in original). Sibley alleges that the Court of Aрpeals judges failed to address this motion. See id.
Sibley further contends that, when he called the D.C. Court of Appeals Clerk’s Office on February 1, 2013, he was told that the court had entered an order on the BOEE matter on January 16, 2013. [2] See id. ¶ 9(b). He subsequently obtained a copy of the purported January 16, 2013 per curiam “order” from BOEE counsel. See id. ¶ 9(c). The “order” – which defendants note was never actually entered on the docket – professes to rule on Sibley’s “petition for rehearing en banc.” See Defs.’ Mot. at 4; Ex. 2 to Defs.’ Mot. [Docket Entry 6-2] (Apr. 11, 2013); Ex. B to Am. Compl. However, Sibley had not filed a petition for a rehearing en banc but rather a petition for an en banc hearing. See Defs.’ Mot. at 4; Ex. 2 to Defs.’ Mot.
On February 5, 2013, Sibley filed a verified motion to vacate and for clarification of the January 16, 2013 “order,” in which he indicated that the court ruled on what was purportedly his “‘petition for rehearing en banc’ [but] that [he] never filed such a petition for rehearing en banc nor could he as the only Order entered in this matter was the January 16, 2013[] Order.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 9(d) (emphasis in original).
*4 On February 6, 2013, the court issued a per curiam order [4] on the BOEE matter, denying Sibely’s petition for а hearing en banc and denying his motion to vacate the January 16, 2013 “order” because “no order was entered.” See Ex. C to Am. Compl. Then, on March 13, 2013, the court granted the BOEE’s motion to dismiss in a per curiam order, [5] noting that “[a]ny issues raised in the petition for review are now moot as the Electoral College previously met and President Obama received a majority of the votes.” See Ex. D to Am. Compl.
Sibley alleges that the actions of Court of Appeals judges “raise a reasonable suspicion[] of malfeasance and corruption” and infringed various of his constitutional rights; he requests nominal, actual, and punitive damages – jointly and severally – totaling $1,075,001.00, as well as a declaratory judgment against the Court of Appeals judges. See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 22(b), 28-29 (internal quotation marks omitted). He additionally contends that the “January 16, 2013[] Order and the February 6, 2013[] Order are internally inconsistent” and that “a felony has been committed in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2071 and/or 28 U.S.C. § 951.” See id. ¶ 20. “[T]he only acceptable remedy,” he insists, “is for the Court of Appeals Defendants to be publicly polled as to which is a true order of that Court.” See id. ¶ 22(b). Sibley аlso seeks nominal, actual, and punitive damages totaling $1,075,001.00 from “Jane Doe” for “issuing a forged District of Columbia Court Order” which Sibley alleges violated his First Amendment rights. See id. ¶¶ 24- 26.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
“[I]n passing on a motion to dismiss, whether on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over
the subject matter or for failure to state a cause of action, the allegations of the complaint should
be construed favorably to the pleader.” Scheuer v. Rhodes,
To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain “‘a short and
plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the
defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atl.
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47
(1957)); accord Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (per curiam). Although “detailed
factual allegations” are not necessary, to provide the “grounds” of “entitle[ment] to relief,”
plaintiffs must furnish “more than labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the
elements of a cause of action.” Twombly,
Under Rule 12(b)(1), the party seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of a federal court –
Sibley here – bears the burden of establishing that the court has jurisdiction. See US Ecology,
Inc. v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior,
DISCUSSION
I. Absolute judicial immunity bars claims for damages against all judicial defendants.
“Few doctrines were more solidly established at common law than the immunity of
judges from liability for damages for acts committed within their judicial jurisdiction . . . .”
Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 553-54 (1967). Stated differently, “[j]udges enjoy absolute
judicial immunity from suits for money damages for all actions taken in the judge’s judicial
capacity, unless these actions are taken in the complete absence of all jurisdiction.” Sindram v.
*7
Suda, 986 F.2d 1459, 1460 (D.C. Cir. 1993) (per curiam). “A judge will not be deprived of
immunity because the action he took was in error, was done maliciously, or was in excess of his
authority . . . .” Stump v. Sparkman,
Defendants argue that Sibley has failed to state a claim against them because absolute
judicial immunity prohibits any claim for damages against Judge Macaluso, the Court of Appeals
judges, and “Jane Doe.” The Court agrees. All of Sibley’s allegations against these defendants
stem from actions taken in their judicial capacities or in the course of performing tasks integral to
the judicial process and are thus entitled to absolute judicial immunity. It cannot be maintаined
that Judge Macaluso or any of the Court of Appeals judges acted in “clear absence of all
jurisdiction.” See Stump,
As Sibley has done in prior cases unsuccessfully brought against various judicial officers
in this Court, he “asserts without support that the actions of the judicial defendants are not
entitled to judicial immunity.” See Sibley v. U.S. Supreme Court, 786 F. Supp. 2d 338, 343
(D.D.C. 2011). But once again, “[Sibley] is incorreсt, and all judicial defendants are in fact
entitled to judicial immunity.” See id.; see also Sibley v. Alito, 2009 No. 08-1797, WL 1649491,
at *1 (D.D.C. June 11, 2009) (“The issue he sought leave of this Court to appeal . . . whether
claims against Justices and officers of the Supreme Court for official acts are barred by judicial
immunity – is not only well settled, but it has been decided against Mr. Sibley in a nearly
identical case he filed previously in this jurisdiction.” (emphasis in original) (citation omitted));
*8
Sibley v. Breyer, 456 F. Supp. 2d 43, 45 (D.D.C. 2006) (“[T]he doctrine of absolute judicial
immunity represents an absolute bar to Mr. Sibley’s claims . . . .”). By seeking to “protect[]
judiсial independence by insulating judges from vexatious actions prosecuted by disgruntled
litigants,” the judicial immunity doctrine serves to quash precisely the sort of unmeritorious
claims that, once again, Sibley advances. See Forrester v. White,
A. Judge Macaluso
Sibley alleges that Judge Macaluso’s denial of his motion to release her trial calendar
violated his “First Amendment presumptive right of access to court proceeding” and “constitutes
irreparable harm.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 15. Yet the action about which Sibley complains – ruling
on a motion – is plainly within Judge Macaluso’s judicial capacity and thus protected by absolute
immunity. See Sindram,
In his opposition, Sibley attempts to overcome judicial immunity by characterizing Judge
Macaluso’s denial of his request to release her trial calendar as a “ministerial,” non-judicial act to
which immunity does not attach. See Pl.’s Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss (“Opp’n”) [Docket
Entry 9] at 5 [Apr. 22, 2013]. But a presiding judge ruling on a motion at a hearing in open court
– as Judge Macaluso was doing – is unambiguously a judicial act. Sibley is correct that absolute
judicial immunity does not extend to some “acts thаt simply happen to have been done by
judges,” but his effort to portray Judge Macaluso’s actions as “ministerial” is futile. See
Forrester,
Sibley includes in his opposition to the current motion an additional allegation that
Judge Macaluso “delayed discovery.” See Opp’n at 2. This alleged conduct is also protected by
absolute judicial immunity because the timing of her handling of the case is within Judge
Macaluso’s judicial capaсity and discretion. See U.S. Supreme Court,
Sibley appears to seek damages against Judge Macaluso in her individual capacity, but he has not identified any act taken by Judge Macaluso outside of her judicial capacity. See Am. Compl. ¶ 5. Hence, Sibley’s allegations fail to state a claim because Judge Macaluso acted within hеr official capacity and is entitled to absolute judicial immunity.
B. Court of Appeals Judges
Sibley also seeks damages from the Court of Appeals judges for “refusing to timely
address [his] claims,” which he contends “had and continue to have an unlawful chilling effect
on [his] rights to Petition and Access Court and is a Systematic Denial of Access to an Impartial
Court, secured to [him] by the First, Fifth, Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution and D.C. Code § 11-1001.11(b)(1).” See Am. Compl. ¶ 28. Absolute judicial
immunity bars these claims as well because they originate from actions that fall squarely within
the Court of Appeals judges’ judicial сapacities: deciding when to rule on pending motions,
ruling on pending motions, and dismissing a case. See Wagner, 1997 WL 255259, at *1;
Sindram,
*10
With respect to the Court of Appeals judges, Sibley asserts that immunity does not apply
because their purported “failure to act” is “outside the scope of the jurisdiction of the Court of
Appeals Defendants.” See Opp’n at 6 (emphasis in original). But determining when to rule on
pending claims and motions is certainly within the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals judges.
See U.S. Supreme Court,
Like his claim against Judge Macaluso, Sibley seeks damages against the Court of Appeals judges in their individual capacities, but he only complаins of actions taken within their official judicial capacities. See Am. Compl. ¶ 6. Thus, Sibley’s allegations fail to state a claim because the Court of Appeals judges acted within their judicial capacities and are entitled to absolute judicial immunity.
C. “Jane Doe”
“[C]lerks, like judges, are immune from damage suits for performance of tasks that are an
integral part of the judicial process.” Sindram,
Putting aside Sibley’s accusation that the “order” was “forged,” preparing, entering, and
issuing orders are tasks that are “integral part[s] of the judicial process” and entitled to absolute
judicial immunity. See Sindram,
Sibley has sued Doe “solely in her individual capacity,” but has not identified any acts taken by Doe outside the performance of tasks within the judicial process. See Am. Compl. ¶ 7. Hence, Sibley’s allegations fail to state a claim because Doe acted within her capacity as a court clerk and is entitled to absolute immunity.
II. Sibley lacks standing to pursue a declaratory judgment.
Although judicial immunity prohibits all claims for money damages, judicial actors still
may be subject to suit for declaratory relief. See Forrester, 484 U.S. at 228-29. The party
claiming the right to a declaratory judgment – Sibley here – must nonetheless establish that he
has the “irreducible constitutional minimum of standing” required by Article III of the U.S.
Constitution. See Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992). Specifically,
Sibley must allege (1) an “injury in fact” which is “(a) concrete and particularized, and (b) actual
or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical”; (2) “a causal connection bеtween the injury and
the conduct complained of”; and (3) a likelihood “that the injury will be redressed by a favorable
*12
decision.” See id. at 560-61 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted); see also Newdow
v. Roberts,
Because Sibley has suffered no injury in fact as a result of the actions of Judge Macaluso and the Court of Appeals judges, he lacks the requisite standing to pursue declaratory relief against them. Even if Sibley had proper standing, moreover, the Court would still, in its discretion, decline to grant declaratory relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a) (authority of a court to grant a declaratory judgment is permissive, not mandatory). “Simply stated, neither the public interest, nor the interests in practical judicial administration, would be served by a federal court reviewing the decisions of our local judicial officers who are acting pursuant to their judicial authority.” Hoai v. Superior Court, 539 F. Supp. 2d 432, 435 (D.D.C. 2008), aff’d, 344 Fed. App’x 620 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (per curiam).
A. Judge Macaluso
Sibley seeks a declaratory judgment finding that Judge Macaluso’s dеnial of his request
to release her trial calendar amounted to a First Amendment violation. But Sibley has not
alleged an injury for standing purposes because no “invasion of [any] legally protected interest”
has occurred, let alone an invasion which is “concrete and particularized” and “actual or
imminent.” See Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560 (internal quotation marks omitted). Sibley cites no
authority for the peculiar proposition that he has a right to a judge’s personal trial calendar
flowing from the First Amendment. While he points to cases involving a First Amendment right
*13
to certain court proceedings, a fair reading of these cases demonstrates that “[i]t is uncontested
. . . that the right to inspect and copy judicial records is not absolute.” See Nixon v. Warner
Commc’ns, Inc.,
To the extent Sibley accuses Judge Macaluso of intentionally delaying the St. Albans
matter and argues that this delay gives rise to an injury in fact, he does not plead any facts in
support of that claim. He admits as much because his only hope for proof of that claim is Judge
Macaluso’s personal trial calendar, to which hе has no right. See Opp’n at 12. But even
accepting his accusation as true and further assuming arguendo that a delay could possibly
constitute an injury, Sibley still lacks standing because this hypothetical injury is neither ongoing
nor presents an immediate threat. See Dearth,
B. Court of Appeals Judges Sibley also fails to establish an injury conferring standing with respect to his claim for declaratory relief against the Court of Appeals judges. According to Sibley, the undocketed January 16, 2013 “order” referring to a rehearing en banc on the BOEE matter and the February 6, 2013 order referring to a hearing еn banc on the same matter are “internally inconsistent,” *15 which gives him “reasonable suspicions of malfeasance and corruption.” See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 20, 21 (internal quotation marks omitted). But nowhere does Sibley even attempt to explain how he suffered an injury as a result of obtaining an undocketed order that contained a minor typographical error, which was subsequently corrected in a docketed order. He pleads no facts to demonstrate that the error in any way affected his procedural or substantive rights or the ultimate dismissаl of his case. Though Sibley has other pending litigation before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and laments that, as a result of the allegedly inconsistent orders, his “faith has now been shattered that any order . . . accurately reports the decision of that Court,” he does no more than speculate that he will again be subject to future discrepancies. See Opp’n at 12 (emphasis in original); Fair Emp’t Council of Greater Washington, Inc. v. BMC Mktg. Corp., 28 F.3d 1268, 1272-74 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (Plaintiffs lacked standing to pursue injunctive and declaratory relief because they “have said nothing to indicate that future violation of their rights is even remotely probable.”). As such, this speculation fails to show that “the threat of repetition” is “sufficiently real and immediate . . . to meet Article III’s injury requirement.” See Haase v. Sessions, 835 F.2d 902, 911 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Sibley essentially concedes this issue when he asks this Court to “[r]etain jurisdiction of this matter to enforce this declaratory degree [sic] if subsequently violated by Court of Appeals Defendants.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 22(c).
Lastly, even if Sibley could establish an injury for standing purposes, that injury would
not be redressed by the order from this Court that he seeks. See Univ. Med. Ctr. of S. Nev. v.
Shalala,
In short, Sibley cannot establish that he suffered an injury due to the actions of Judge Macaluso or the Court of Appeals judges. He has no standing to pursue declaratory relief, and his claims for such relief will be dismissed.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, defеndants’ motion to dismiss will be granted. A separate order will be issued on this date.
/s/ JOHN D. BATES United States District Judge Dated: July 26, 2013
Notes
[1] The Court of Appeals judges include Chief Judge Eric T. Washington; Associate Judges Stephen H. Glickman, John R. Fisher, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, Phyllis D. Thompson, Kathryn A. Oberly, Corinne A. Beckwith, Catharine F. Easterly, and Roy W. McLeese; and Senior Judges John A. Terry and Inez Smith Reid.
[2] The issuing judges named on the January 16, 2013 “order” are Chief Judge Washington and Associate Judges Glickman, Fisher, Blackburne-Rigsby, Thompson, Oberly, Beckwith, Easterly, and McLeese.
[3] The government claims that the January 16, 2013 “order” was not mailed to Sibley; Sibley clаims that it was. Compare Defs.’ Mot. at 13, with Pl.’s Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss [Docket Entry 9] at 3 [Apr. 22, 2013]. Even assuming the veracity of Sibley’s allegations, as required at this stage, the “order” was still never entered on the docket.
[4] The February 6, 2013 per curiam order was issued by Chief Judge Washington and Associate Judges Glickman, Fisher, Blackburne-Rigsby, Thompson, Oberly, Beckwith, Easterly, and McLeese.
[5] The March 13, 2013 per curiam order was issued by Associate Judge Thompson and Senior Judges Terry and Reid.
[6] Sibley appears to make a motion for leave to further amend his amended complaint to incоrporate additional factual allegations that he includes in a declaration submitted with his opposition. See Opp’n at 1 n.1. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a), the Court will consider the additional allegations.
[7] The only inaccuracy in the January 16, 2013 “order” appears to be a minor typographical error as Sibley had petitioned for a hearing en banc rather than the rehearing en banc referred to in the “order.” There is no information in the record that supports Sibley’s conclusion that because the January 16, 2013 “оrder” contained this typographical error, it was therefore a “forgery.”
[8] Sibley also asks this Court, among other things, to retain jurisdiction of his claim against Judge Macaluso, “enforce this declaratory degree [sic] if subsequently violated by Defendant Macaluso,” and award “reasonable costs, disbursements and attorney fees.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 13.
[9] See Press-Enter. Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U.S. 1, 10-13 (1986) (First Amendment right of
access applies to transcripts of preliminary hearing in a state criminal proceeding); Globe
Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court, 457 U.S. 596, 610-11 (1982) (a state highest court’s
interpretation of a state statute to exclude the press and general public from testimony of victims
under the age of eighteen at trials for certain sexual offenses violates the First Amendment);
Mokhiber v. Davis,
[10] Sibley cites Mokhiber,
[11] Moreover, by requesting a declaratory judgment finding that Sibley is entitled to Judge
Macaluso’s trial calendar, Sibley essentially asks this Court to review Judge Macaluso’s ruling
on his motion in D.C. Superior Court. This request runs afoul of the well-established Rooker-
Feldman doctrine, which holds that “federal district courts lack jurisdiction to review judicial
decisions by state and District of Columbia courts.” Richardson v. District of Columbia Ct. of
Appeals,
[12] Like his claim for declaratory relief against Judge Macaluso, Sibley also seeks, among other things, “reasonable costs, disbursements, and attorney fees.” See Am. Compl. ¶ 22(d).