Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_20-cv-00071/USCOURTS-cand-3_20-cv-00071-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 540
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Mandamus and Other
Cause of Action: 28:1651 Petition for Writ of Mandamus

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN WAYNE BONILLA,

Plaintiff,

v.

VINCE G. CHHABRIA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 20-cv-00071-VC (PR) 

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH 

PREJUDICE

Petitioner Steven Wayne Bonilla, a state inmate, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of 

mandamus seeking a default judgment against three federal district court judges for their rulings 

taken in his cases before them. 

A federal judge is absolutely immune from civil liability for acts performed in his or her

judicial capacity and, unlike the judicial immunity available to state judges sued under § 1983, a 

federal judge's immunity is not limited to immunity from damages, but extends to actions for 

declaratory, injunctive and other equitable relief. See Moore v. Brewster, 96 F.3d 1240, 1243 

(9th Cir. 1996), superseded by statute on other grounds; Mullis v. U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 828 

F.2d 1385, 1394 (9th Cir. 1987). Furthermore, Bonillas’ underlying claims are about his state 

criminal case, therefore, they are properly brought in his pending habeas proceedings.

This is not a case in which the undersigned judge’s impartiality might be reasonably 

questioned. See United States v. Holland, 519 F.3d 909, 912 (9th Cir. 2008) (absent legitimate 

reason to recuse himself or herself, judge has a duty to sit in judgment in all cases assigned to 

Case 3:20-cv-00071-VC Document 3 Filed 01/15/20 Page 1 of 2
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that judge). 

Accordingly, this action is dismissed with prejudice because amendment would be futile. 

The Clerk shall file no further documents in this case after it is closed. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 15, 2020

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

Case 3:20-cv-00071-VC Document 3 Filed 01/15/20 Page 2 of 2