Opinion ID: 4558524
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Approval of the Criminal Complaint

Text: Weimer’s Second Amended Complaint alleges that “nearly three years after . . . Haith’s murder,” the investigation had “uncovered statements made by three different persons— Beal, Blair and Stenger—that were patently inconsistent, and . . . contradicted by known DNA evidence.” App. 93 ¶ 53. Nevertheless, Vernon and several officers “agreed to proceed with filing criminal charges against” Weimer. App. 93 ¶ 54. The officers then prepared a criminal complaint, which Vernon approved. Vernon’s approval of the criminal complaint is protected by prosecutorial immunity. We have long maintained that “[t]he decision to initiate a prosecution is at the core of a prosecutor’s judicial role.” Kulwicki, 969 F.2d at 1463; see also Kalina v. Fletcher, 522 U.S. 118, 129 (1997) (holding a prosecutor’s “activities in connection with the preparation and filing” of a criminal information and motion for arrest were protected by absolute immunity).