2007 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

9-19-2007

Weldon v. Caldwell

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 07-1487

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Recommended Citation

"Weldon v. Caldwell" (2007). 2007 Decisions. Paper 417.

http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2007/417
BLD-346 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

NO. 07-1487

______________________________________

ROBERT C. WELDON,

 Appellant

v.

DISTRICT COURT

WILLIAM W. CALDWELL

______________________________________

On Appeal From the United States District Court

For the Middle District of Pennsylvania

(D.C. Civ. No. 07-cv-00243)

District Judge: Richard P. Conaboy

_______________________________________

Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)

August 16, 2007

Before: MCKEE, FUENTES AND VANANTWERPEN, CIRCUIT JUDGES

(Filed: September 19, 2007)

____________________

 OPINION

_______________________

PER CURIAM

Appellant Robert C. Weldon, a Pennsylvania prisoner, appeals the District Court’s

order dismissing his in forma pauperis civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983. In that complaint, Weldon alleged that Judge William W. Caldwell, who is

presiding over a separate civil rights action brought by Weldon, improperly dismissed his

motion for summary judgment to “advance the private interests of the defendants.” 
Weldon sought monetary damages and noted that “the rest of what [he] want[s] [the court]

to do for [him] will be discussed at the appropriate time!” Concluding that Judge Caldwell

is immune from suit, the District Court dismissed Weldon’s complaint pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii). Weldon appealed.

Weldon’s claims against Judge Caldwell are barred by the doctrine of judicial

immunity. It is a well-established principle that judges are absolutely immune from suits

for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 when they act in a judicial capacity. See Stump v.

Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356-57 (1978) (citation omitted) (“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; rather, he will be subject to liability only when he has acted in the

‘clear absence of all jurisdiction.’”). Because the act that Weldon complains of –

dismissing his motion for summary judgment – was performed by Judge Caldwell in his

official capacity, Judge Caldwell is entitled to judicial immunity. See Gallas v. Supreme

Court of Pennsylvania, 211 F.3d 760, 768-69 (3d Cir. 2000).

Having found no merit to this appeal, we will dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(e)(2)(B). Weldon’s motion for appointment of counsel is denied. 

________________________

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