Opinion ID: 421196
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Amos.

Text: 16 The Supreme Court has not considered the question of immunity for parole officials. In DeShields v. United States Parole Board Commission, 593 F.2d 354, 356 (8th Cir.1979) (per curiam), this court stated that, at a minimum, parole board officials are entitled to qualified immunity. The DeShields decision left open the question of whether parole board officials are entitled to absolute immunity. Other circuits, however, have held that parole officials should be accorded absolute immunity for performing official duties. See, e.g., United States v. Irving, 684 F.2d 494 (7th Cir.1982); Sellars v. Procunier, 641 F.2d 1295 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1102, 102 S.Ct. 678, 70 L.Ed.2d 644 (1981); Pope v. Chew, 521 F.2d 400 (4th Cir.1975); Pate v. Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, 409 F.Supp. 478 (M.D.Ala.1976), affirmed without opinion, 548 F.2d 354 (5th Cir.1977). We agree. 17 In Butz v. Economou, 438 U.S. 478, 98 S.Ct. 2894, 57 L.Ed.2d 895 (1978), the Supreme Court stated that in determining the type of immunity to be accorded to a particular official, courts should compare the officials functions with those of judges. Id. at 512-17, 98 S.Ct. at 2913-16. For example, the Court reasoned, [t]here can be little doubt that the role of the modern federal hearing examiner or administrative law judge within this framework is 'functionally comparable' to that of a judge. Id. at 513, 98 S.Ct. at 2914. Accordingly, the Court held these individuals were entitled to absolute immunity from damages liability for their judicial acts. Id. at 514, 98 S.Ct. at 2914. Similarly, parole officials in deciding to grant, deny, or revoke parole, perform functions comparable to those of judges. In the case at bar, Amos acted within the scope of his official duties in reviewing the parole panel's recommendation. Amos, therefore, is entitled to absolute immunity. 18