Opinion ID: 171900
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Actions Within the Scope of Jurisdiction

Text: Quasi-judicial immunity will not attach to state officials acting outside the scope of their jurisdiction. Turney, 898 F.2d at 1474. However, as explained above, Utah statutory law directs sheriff's deputies such as Kopp and Herlin to execute judicial orders. UTAH CODE ANN. §§ 17-22-1, -2(1)(c), (k) (directing a Utah sheriff's deputy to obey [a court's] lawful orders and directions and serve all process and notices as prescribed by law, and defining process to include all writs, warrants, summonses and orders of the courts of justice or judicial officers). Further, Kopp and Herlin may have faced contempt if they had refused to execute the orders at issue in this case. See id. § 78B-6-301(3), (5) (The following acts or omissions in respect to a court or its proceedings are contempts of the authority of the court: ... (3) misbehavior in office, or other willful neglect or violation of duty by [a] sheriff, or other person appointed or elected to perform a judicial or ministerial service; ... (5) disobedience of any lawful judgment, order or process of the court....). Here Kopp and Herlin obeyed the statute and executed Judge Medley's orders. From the facts presented, it cannot be said that they acted outside the scope of their jurisdiction.