Case Name: Edward B. SAUNDERS-EL, Appellant v. The UNITED STATES of America; Judge Ditter; Judges Bechtle; Shapiro; Debevoise, Weiner; Named and Unamed Conspirators Defendants
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-09-19
Citations: 144 F. App'x 273
Docket Number: Nos. 04-2986, 04-4755
Parties: Edward B. SAUNDERS-EL, Appellant v. The UNITED STATES of America; Judge Ditter; Judges Bechtle; Shapiro; Debevoise, Weiner; Named and Unamed Conspirators Defendants.
Judges: Before ALITO, SMITH and COWEN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 144
Pages: 273–274

Head Matter:
Edward B. SAUNDERS-EL, Appellant v. The UNITED STATES of America; Judge Ditter; Judges Bechtle; Shapiro; Debevoise, Weiner; Named and Unamed Conspirators Defendants.
Nos. 04-2986, 04-4755.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Aug. 4, 2005.
Decided Sept. 19, 2005.
Edward B. Saunders-El, Philadelphia, PA, pro se.
Susan D. Bricklin, Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, for Defendants.
Before ALITO, SMITH and COWEN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Edward Saunders-El, a pro se litigant, filed a complaint in which he alleged that the defendant federal district court judges engaged in a conspiracy of racial and class-based discrimination in violation of his federal rights. Saunders-El claims that the judges violated his civil rights by, inter alia, denying habeas relief, dismissing numerous complaints, and adversely ruling on motions in previous civil actions that he filed. Saunders-El sought damages and injunctive relief.
The District Court found that SaundersEl's claims against the United States are barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity. In addition, the court found that because all of the claims against the federal judges involved actions taken in their official judicial capacity, they are immune from suit. Thus, on June 11, 2004, the District Court sua sponte dismissed the complaint. Saunders-El timely filed a motion for reconsideration pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e). Before the District Court ruled on the motion, Saunders-EI filed a notice of appeal from •the final judgment (C.A. No. 04-2986). Saunders-El filed several subsequent motions in the District Court. On December 20, 2004, the District Court denied all pending motions, and Saunders-El appealed that ruling (C.A. No. 04-4755). The appeals have been consolidated for disposition.
Saunders-El contends that the District Court improperly applied judicial immunity to his claims against the judges. See Br. at 3. It is well established that "judges defending against § 1983 actions enjoy absolute immunity from damages liability for acts performed in their judicial capacities." Dennis v. Sparks, 449 U.S. 24, 27, 101 S.Ct. 183, 66 L.Ed.2d 185 (1980). Here, the record indicates that the acts complained of—denying habeas relief, dismissing numerous complaints, and ruling on motions—were clearly all performed in the judges' official capacity. Therefore, the judges are immune. See Gallas v. Supreme Court of Pa., 211 F.3d 760, 768-73 (3d Cir.2000). Accordingly, the District Court properly dismissed Saunders-El's civil rights claims.
We have fully considered all of the arguments raised by Saunders-El on appeal, and find that they lack merit and warrant no further discussion. For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court's judgment. Appellant's motion for recusal of Judges Smith and Cowen is denied. Appellees' motion for summary affirmance is denied as moot.