Opinion ID: 794277
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prosecutor Goldman

Text: 21 The district court concluded Goldman was entitled to absolute immunity from liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Reasonover argues the district court erred in finding Goldman (1) acted solely as a prosecutor and not as an investigator regarding his contacts with Jolliff, Hinton, Main, and Lyner; (2) did not act recklessly in conducting his investigation; and (3) was not involved in a conspiracy to convict Reasonover. 22 A prosecutor enjoys absolute immunity for acts performed in initiating a prosecution and in presenting the State's case. Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976). [F]unctions[] `intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process[]' as opposed to investigative `police work' or administrative duties [are] absolutely shielded from liability under section 1983 claims. Myers v. Morris, 810 F.2d 1437, 1445 (8th Cir.1987) (quoting Imbler, 424 U.S. at 430, 96 S.Ct. 984), abrogated on other grounds, Burns v. Reed, 500 U.S. 478, 111 S.Ct. 1934, 114 L.Ed.2d 547 (1991). Immunity is not defeated by allegations of malice, vindictiveness, or self-interest. Id. at 1446. 23 All of Goldman's acts complained of by Reasonover were prosecutorial functions and therefore are protected. Goldman's contacts with Jolliff in preparing her to testify at trial, and his interviews of Hinton, Main, and Lyner, were all actions associated with prosecuting Reasonover's alleged criminal acts. Reasonover's arguments regarding Goldman's contacts with Lyner are particularly weak. Reasonover claims at one point, given Lyner's extensive criminal background, Goldman should have taken steps to corroborate Lyner's statements beyond a polygraph test-i.e., Goldman should have further investigated Lyner. Reasonover then argues Goldman was divested of his absolute immunity because of his active[] ... investigation of Lyner. Reasonover cannot have it both ways. Regardless, Goldman's interviewing of witnesses, including Lyner, was prosecutorial and not police work. Not all of an advocate's work is done in the courtroom. For a lawyer to properly try a case, he must confer with witnesses, and conduct some of his own factual investigation. Cook v. Houston Post, 616 F.2d 791, 793 (5th Cir.1980), quoted in Myers, 810 F.2d at 1450. Even if Goldman knowingly presented false, misleading, or perjured testimony, or even if he withheld or suppressed exculpatory evidence, he is absolutely immune from suit. See Myers, 810 F.2d at 1446. 24 Finally, a prosecutor is absolutely immune from a civil conspiracy charge when his alleged participation in the conspiracy consists of otherwise immune acts. Rowe v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 279 F.3d 1271, 1282 (11th Cir.2002); see also Myers, 810 F.2d at 1446. Because Goldman is absolutely immune from liability for prosecuting Reasonover, he cannot be held liable for conspiring to violate Reasonover's constitutional rights by prosecuting her. 25