2011 D e c i sion s O p inion s of the U nit e d S t a t e s C our t of Appe al s for the Thir d C ir c uit

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w . v i l l a no v a . e du/thir dc ir c uit_2011/490GLD - 287 NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

___________ No. 11

- 2876

___________ ROBERT L. GARY ,

Appellant

v. DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES KNOLL GARDNER; MAGISTRATE JUDGE HENRY S. PERKIN; DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MARSH AL’S SERVICE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PA; CLERK OF COURT MICHAEL E. KUNZ; RICK SABOL; DEPUTY CLERK MATT SHEETZ

____________________________________ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Civil No. No. 11

- cv - 02854 ) District Judge: Honorable Juan R. Sanchez

____________________________________ Submitted for Possible or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6

September 8, 2011 Before: AMBRO, CHAGARES AND COWEN , Circuit Ju dges

(Opinion filed September 21, 2011 )

_________ OPINION

_________ PER CURIAM2

Robert Gary , proceeding pro se , appeals the order of the District Court dismissing his complaint . Because we conclude that this appeal presents no substantial question, we w ill summarily affirm. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6. The allegations in Gary’s complaint arise from two other civil actions he is pursuing in District Court, s ee E.D. Pa. Civ. No s . 10

- cv - 10

- 1844 (“the first case”) and 10

- cv - 2082 (“the second case”) , both which were originally before Judge Gardner. He claims that Judge Gardner referred the first case to Magistrate Judge Perkin for a settlement conference without his consent. He also complains that the Clerk’s Office used its own forms

— rather than t he forms he provided

— to send civil summonses to the defendants in the first case. Gary claims that, in the second case, defendants Sabol and Sheetz erroneously informed him that he needed to personally serve the summons on defendant Robert Lobach. The Ma rshals did eventually serve Lobach. Gary complains that these actions have caused him mental anguish and the loss of enjoyment of life, and have deprived him of due process. He seeks $50 million in damages. On the same day Gary filed his complaint, the D istrict Court granted him in forma pauperis status and dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Gary filed a timely notice of appeal. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review the District Court’s dismissal under § 1915(e) for abuse of dis cretion. Denton v. Hernandez , 504 U.S. 25, 22 (1992)

. S ummary action is warranted if an appeal presents no substantial question. LAR 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6. We agree with the District Court that Gary’s claims against Judge Gardner and Magistrate Judge Perkin are barred by judicial immunity. See Azubuko v. Royal , 443 F.3d 302, 303 (3d Cir. 2006) (“A judicial officer in the performance of his duty has absolute immunity3

from suit and will not be liable for his judicial acts.”). There is no indication, whatsoev er, that either of the narrow exceptions to the doctrine of judicial immunity applies here. See Mireles v. Waco , 502 U.S. 9, 11

- 12 (1991) (per curiam) (explaining that the doctrine of immunity applies unless (1) the challenged action is non

- judicial in na ture, or (2) the challenged action was “taken in the complete absence of all jurisdiction”). Moreover, we note that the District Court vacated the order referring the case to the Magistrate Judge on August 17, 2011. We also agree with the District Court that the United States Marshals Service is entitled to sovereign immunity from suit. The Marshals Service, as an agency of the United States, is “shielded from private actions unless sovereign immunity has been waived.” Beneficial Consumer Discount Co. v. Poltonowicz , 47 F.3d 91, 94 (3d Cir. 1995). Gary has received no waiver of that immunity. Finally, the District Court properly dismissed the claims against defendants Kuntz, Sabol, and Sheetz after determining that they are immune from suit. See Azubu ko , 443 F.3d at 303; Lockhart v. Hoenstine , 411 F.2d 455, 460 (3d Cir. 1969) (“[A]ny public official acting pursuant to court directive is [] immune from suit.”); see also Wallace v. Abell , 318 F. App’x. 96, 99 (3d Cir. 2009) (Clerk of Court is absolutely immune for discretionary acts and court personnel receive qualified immunity for nondiscretionary acts.) Because the appeal does not present a substantial question, we will summarily af firm the District Court’s order

. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; 3d Cir. I. O.P. 10.6.