Opinion ID: 604362
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dunleavy

Text: 21 Prosecutors are entitled to absolute immunity from § 1983 claims for their quasi-judicial actions as long as those acts are performed within the scope of their authority. Ashelman, 793 F.2d at 1075, 1078; Ybarra v. Reno Thunderbird Mobile Home Village, 723 F.2d 675, 678 (9th Cir.1984). Such immunity applies even if it leaves the genuinely wronged [plaintiff] without civil redress against a prosecutor whose malicious or dishonest action deprives him of liberty. Ashelman, 793 F.2d at 1075 (internal quotations omitted). 22 A prosecutor acts within his authority when he performs a kind of act having more or less connection with the general matters committed to his control or supervision. Ybarra, 723 F.2d at 678 (prosecutor did not exceed his authority when he allegedly failed to preserve exculpatory evidence). Thus, a prosecutor does not exceed the scope of his authority if he performs an act connected with matters committed to his control. Id. 23 Immunity applies only when the challenged actions are quasi-judicial. A prosecutor's role as an advocate requires him to perform many preliminary and preparatory functions both in initiating the criminal process and in preparing for trial. See Imbler, 424 U.S. at 431 n. 33. Additionally, investigative functions carried out pursuant to the preparation of a prosecutor's case also enjoy absolute immunity. Ybarra, 723 F.2d at 679 (internal quotations and brackets omitted). 24 We have applied absolute immunity where a prosecutor is attempting to determine whether to bring charges. See Demery v. Kupperman, 735 F.2d 1139, 1144 (9th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1127 (1985) (applied absolute prosecutorial immunity in a § 1983 suit where the deputy attorney general had allegedly induced witnesses to testify falsely). In Demery, the court reasoned that conferring with potential witnesses for the purpose of determining whether to initiate proceedings is plainly a function intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process, and is therefore a quasi-judicial function to which the reasons for absolute immunity apply with full force. Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted) (emphasis added). Dunleavy's actions were within the scope of his authority as a prosecutor and were quasi-judicial. 25 Even assuming Dunleavy acted in bad faith, such an allegation is not sufficient to overcome immunity. Ashelman, 793 F.2d at 1075; Demoran v. Witt, 781 F.2d 155, 158 (9th Cir.1986). Although Dunleavy's actions may have been improper, he is still entitled to immunity. See Ashelman, 793 F.2d at 1078. Therefore, we affirm the district court in dismissing the action against him.