Document: 508 U.S. 429 113 S.Ct. 2167 124 L.Ed.2d 391 Jeffery ANTOINE, Petitioner,v.BYERS & ANDERSON, INC., et al. No. 91-7604. Argued March 30, 1993. Decided June 7, Syllabus * Petitioner's appeal from a federal-court bank robbery conviction was delayed four years because respondent court reporter failed to provide trial transcript. In his civil damages action against and her former employer, also here, the Federal District Court granted summary judgment in respondents' favor on ground that reporters are entitled absolute immunity. The of Appeals affirmed. Held: A is not absolutely immune liability for failing produce transcript federal criminal trial. Respondents bear burden establishing justification immunity they claim, which depends historically accorded officials like them at common law interests behind it, Butz v. Economou, 438 478, 508, 98 2894, 2911-12, 57 895. Since were among class person protected by judicial 19th century, respondents suggest common-law judges, who made handwritten notes during trials, be treated as their historical counterparts. However, functions two types notetakers significantly different, since charged statute with producing "verbatim" inclusion official record, while judges exercise discretion deciding exactly what how much will write. Moreover, judge perform reporter's function, she might well acting an administrative capacity, there no Forrester White, 484 219, 229, 108 538, 545, 555. Because job requires discretionary judgment, part function. See Imbler Pachtman, 424 409, 423, n. 20, 96 984, 991, 47 128. Pp. ____. 950 F.2d 1471 (CA9 1991), reversed remanded. STEVENS, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. M. Margaret McKeown, Seattle, WA, petitioner. William P. Fite, respondents. Justice STEVENS 1 This case presents question whether 2 1986, after 2-day trial, jury convicted petitioner robbery. Petitioner promptly appealed ordered copy Ruggenberg, had served reporter. Ruggenberg May 29, 1986. 3 Over later, yet transcript, despite long series hearings, orders, new filing deadlines. July 1988, finally explained lost many notes, though additional tapes later come light. At one point proceedings, fined arrested sought obtain this other overdue transcripts. Eventually, making use Ruggenberg's partial materials submitted parties pursuant Rule 10(c) Rules Appellate Procedure,1 another produced appellate process went forward. As result delay obtaining petitioner's heard until conviction. 1471, 1472-1473 1991); C88-260TB (WD Wash., Feb. 16, 1990), 2-3, reprinted App. 24. 4 1990, set aside remanded determine been prejudiced lack verbatim receiving violated constitutional right due process. United States Antoine, 906 1379 (CA9). ruled both issues reinstated C85-87T Aug. 21, 45. then 967 592 1992) (judgt. order), 66. 5 meantime, before disposed first filed action, seeking Byers Anderson, Inc., firm engaged its contract reporting services Following discovery, pendent state claims dismissed jurisdictional grounds. C88-260TB, supra; 23. 6 Without reaching questions or damages, affirmed.2 Reasoning "justified defined it protects serves," 227, 544, 555 (1988) (emphasis omitted), "the tasks performed furtherance statutory duties functionally parcel process," held actions within scope authority immune. F.2d, 1475-1476. 7 Some Circuits have only qualified immunity.3 We certiorari resolve conflict. 506 ----, 320, 121 240 (1992). II 8 proponent claim bears such immunity.4 determining justify full exemption liability, "we 'undertaken considered inquiry into relevant it.' " 2912, 895 (1978) (quoting 421, 990, 128 (1976)); see Burns Reed, 500 111 1934, 1938, 114 547 (1991).5 9 skilled, professional today unknown centuries when doctrine developed. generally Ratteray, Verbatim Reporting Comes Age, 56 Judicature 368 (1973). It late century began appear courts. Id., 368-369. Prior enactment Reporter Act 1944,6 system did reporting.7 century.8 10 Faced absence tradition involving themselves, urge us treat counterparts trials. find analogy unpersuasive. function different today. Whereas each session court, 28 U.S.C. § 753(b), Early notetakers, instance, left records "narrative cannot reconstructed"; own purposes charging jury, never entered public record. Langbein, Shaping Eighteenth-Century Criminal Trial: View Ryder Sources, 50 U.Chi.L.Rev. 1, 5-6 (1983).9 11 There second problem theory. Even reporter, would end inquiry. still remain consider performing themselves do doubt notetaking commonly practiced immunity, involves kind decisionmaking designed protect. But if we could imagine hypothetical felt himself bound transcribe entire proceeding verbatim, far less clear—and neither refers any suggesting—that duty similarly protected. Indeed, recently capacity. (1988). 12 unpersuaded contention our "functional approach" U.S., S.Ct., 1939, extended "part function," 1476. supported long-settled understanding independent impartial vital judiciary impaired exposure potential liability.10 Accordingly, "touchstone" doctrine's applicability has "performance resolving disputes between parties, authoritatively adjudicating private rights." 1946 (SCALIA, concurring dissenting part). When than judgments "functional[ly] comparab[le]" those judges—that is, they, too, "exercise judgment" 20. Cf. Westfall Erwin, 292, 297-298, 580, 584, 619 (absolute state-law tort available executive conduct discretionary). 13 category. noted above, required "recor[d] verbatim" proceedings entirety. 753(b). They afforded carrying out duty; accurately possible, transpires court. McLallen Henderson, 492 1298, 1299 (CA8 1974) (court "because ministerial, discretionary, nature"); Waterman State, 35 Misc.2d 954, 957, 232 N.Y.S.2d 22, 26 (Ct.Cl.1962), aff'd part, rev'd 19 A.D.2d 264, 241 314 (1963) (same).11 mean task difficult, highly skilled. difficulty does itself make comparable judge. Malley Briggs, 475 335, 342, 106 1092, 1096-1097, 89 271 (1986) (police officer involved applying warrant). Nor sufficient extremely important or, words Appeals, "indispensable process." Forrester, some "even may essential very functioning courts, . regarded acts." 228, 544. short, 14 Finally, argue strong policy reasons support extension reporters. According respondents, given current volume litigation inevitably unable meet Absolute help protect vexatious suits brought disappointed litigants happens. Requiring defend allegations asserted hand, unfair, but aggravate contributing further caseload 15 Assuming relevance arguments, unpersuasive three reasons. First, cases relatively rare. provided empirical evidence demonstrating existence significant burdensome reporters, even 3, supra. Second, large number materialize, misjudged significance burden, review countervailing considerations Congress appropriate amendment Act. Third, most important, reason believe Judiciary, surely familiar special virtues concerns profession, administer justice members fairly. 16 reversed, consistent opinion. 17 So ordered. syllabus constitutes prepared Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 282, 287, L.Ed. 499. Procedure provides part: "Statement report unavailable.—If hearing made, unavailable, appellant prepare statement best means, including appellant's recollection." addition claims, complaint alleged violation 42 1983. Noting grounds, 1983 basis suit agents, assumed facts recognized Bivens Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 388, 91 1999, 29 (1971). 1473-1474 1991). presented petition relates defense based decision, Pet. Cert. i, occasion comment validity underlying cause action. 1299-1300 1974); Slavin Curry, 574 1256, 1265-1266 (CA5 1978); Green Maraio, 722 1013, 1018 (CA2 1983). Seventh Circuit, Ninth, Scruggs Moellering, 870 376, 377 (CA7), cert. denied, 493 956, 110 371, 107 357 (1989). consistently "emphasized showing justified question. presumption rather government duties. quite sparing recognition refused extend warrant." (1991) (internal quotation marks citations omitted). For distinguished officials. 503-504, 2909, (1978). 58 Stat. 5, amended, 753. decided 1942, pointed out: "There creating position stenographer none requiring stenographic case, criminal, providing payment proceedings. practice agree designated shall so report. selected must paid arrangement more litigation. amount him costs nor taxable parties." Miller States, 317 192, 197, 63 187, 190, 87 179 (1942). "Judicial Immunity all relating functions. See, e.g., T. Cooley, Law Torts 408-409 (1880). narrowly speaking, 'military naval officers exercising order courts-martial inferiors, putting inferiors under arrest preliminary trial; grand petit jurors discharge such; assessors upon whom imposed valuing property purpose levy taxes; commissioners appointed appraise taken eminent domain; empowered lay out, alter, discontinue highways; highway claiming road tax fact exempt, default having worked assessment; township board allowance claims; arbitrators, collector customs sell perishable property, fixing time notice sale.' 410-411 (footnotes "As evident foregoing catalog, citizens (in particular arbitrators); touchstone performance 1946, avoid imposing obligation complete "If compelled answer acts, office degraded usefulness destroyed, he subjected protection necessity preserving record every litigated authorities cited arguments presented, able show summoned losing party integrity. ." Bradley Fisher, Wall. 349, 20 646 (1872). "For general principal highest importance proper administration officer, vested him, free act convictions, without apprehension personal consequences himself. Liability feel aggrieved judge, inconsistent possession freedom, destroy independence can either respectable useful." 347. Mireles Waco, 502 112 286, 116 (1991), therein. "A stenographer, notwithstanding nature work performs His purely ministerial administrative; power decision. [of immunity] application confronted here." Waterman, Misc.2d, N.Y.S.2d, 26.

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