Evans v. Brandt

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia grants the plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and dismisses the complaint without prejudice. The court holds that the defendant, a Superior Court judge, is entitled to absolute judicial immunity for actions taken in a judicial capacity, including alleged erroneous or malicious conduct absent a complete absence of jurisdiction.

Holdings

1. Judges are absolutely immune from suits for money damages for actions taken in their judicial capacity, unless the actions were taken in the complete absence of all jurisdiction.
2. The complaint and case were dismissed without prejudice because the defendant was protected by judicial immunity.

Questions Presented

1. Whether a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia is absolutely immune from a damages action for acts taken in a judicial capacity.
2. Whether the complaint should be dismissed without prejudice based on judicial immunity.

Disposition

dismissed