Opinion ID: 770341
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Defendant Prosecutors

Text: 37 Prosecutors are also entitled to absolute immunity from damages for acts or omissions associated with the judicial process, in particular, those taken in initiating a prosecution and in presenting the government's case. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 430-31, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976); Jones v. Cannon, 174 F.3d 1271, 1281 (11th Cir.1999); Fullman v. Graddick, 739 F.2d 553, 558-59 (11th Cir.1984). Our predecessor court has held that prosecutors are not immune from claims for injunctive relief, however. See Tarter v. Hury, 646 F.2d 1010, 1012 (5th Cir.1981) ([P]rosecutors do not enjoy absolute immunity from [declaratory and injunctive relief] claims.). Further, we have found no case distinguishing between state and federal prosecutors in this regard as has been done between state and federal judges. However, we do not resolve this question because the district court's dismissal of plaintiffs claims against the defendant prosecutors may so clearly be upheld on an alternate ground. 38 In order to receive declaratory or injunctive relief, plaintiffs must establish that there was a violation, that there is a serious risk of continuing irreparable injury if the relief is not granted, and the absence of an adequate remedy at law. See Newman v. Alabama, 683 F.2d 1312 (11th Cir.1982). As aptly noted by the Ninth Circuit in Mullis, there is an adequate remedy at law for the violations alleged by plaintiffs in their complaint. Specifically, plaintiffs may appeal any rulings, or actions taken, in their criminal cases not only to this Court but also to the Supreme Court. In addition, plaintiffs may seek an extraordinary writ such as a writ of mandamus in either this Court or the Supreme Court. See 28 U.S.C. 1651. Accordingly, there is an adequate remedy at law and plaintiffs are not entitled to declaratory or injunctive relief in this case. As a result, the district court was correct in dismissing plaintiffs' claims, albeit for a different reason. 7 39