Document: 449 U.S. 24 101 S.Ct. 183 66 L.Ed.2d 185 Orville E. DENNIS, Petitioner,v.Sidney SPARKS and R. L. Lynd, d/b/a Sidney A. Sparks, Trustee. No. 79-1186. Argued Oct. 8, 1980. Decided Nov. 17, Syllabus After a Texas state court's injunction against respondents' production of minerals from certain oil leases was dissolved by an appellate court as having been illegally issued, respondents filed suit in Federal District Court alleging cause action for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 the judge who issued injunction, corporation that had obtained its owner, sureties on bond (one whom is petitioner). Respondents claimed corruptly result conspiracy between other defendants, thus causing deprivation property without due process law. The dismissed action, holding immune liability because judicial act within jurisdiction court, with dismissal remaining defendants could not be said to have conspired "under color" law meaning 1983. Appeals agreed suit, but ultimately reversed claims defendants. Held: private parties accused conspiring subject dismissal. Private persons, jointly engaged officials challenged are acting purposes actions. And judge's immunity official allegedly product corrupt involving bribery does change character his or co-conspirators. Historically at common law, insulate those persons conspire judge. Nor has doctrine considered historically excusing responding witness when co-conspirators sued, even though charge corruption will aired decided. Gravel v. United States, 408 606, 92 2614, 33 583 distinguished. potential harm public denying if factfinder mistakenly upholds outweighed benefits providing remedy participate subverting so doing inflict injury persons. Pp. 27-32. 5th Cir., 604 F.2d 976, affirmed. Finley Edmonds, Corpus Christi, Tex., petitioner. Garland F. Smith, Weslaco, respondents. Justice WHITE delivered opinion Court. 1 In January 1973, 229th Duval County, enjoined owned June 1975, issued. then complaint States purporting 1983.1 Defendants were County Ranch Co., Inc., which sole owner corporation, entered two individual bond, one now petitioner this Essentially, claim property, i. e., years production, 2 All moved dismiss, asserting urging failure allege necessary component action. concluded whether conspiracy. Relying Haldane Chagnon, 345 601 (CA9 1965), also ruled color them accordingly "for upon relief can granted." 3 per curiam opinion, panel Fifth Circuit affirmed, agreeing "the all citizens, did any person valid stated," Sparks 588 124, 126 (1979), existing authorities required these well.2 case reconsidered en banc, prior authority overruled judgment insofar it than 976 (1979). there no good reason logic, policy conferring persuaded exercise corruptly. Because below inconsistent rulings Courts Appeals3 involves important issue, we granted petition certiorari. 445 942, 100 1336, 63 775. We affirm. 4 Based expressed Bradley Fisher, 13 Wall. 335, 20 L.Ed. 646 (1872), consistently adhered rule "judges defending actions enjoy absolute acts performed their capacities. Pierson Ray, 386 547 [87 1213, 18 288] (1967); Stump Sparkman, 435 349 [98 1099, 55 331] (1978)." Supreme Virginia Consumers Union, 446 719, 734-735, 1967, 1976, 64 641 (1980). courts comes us, properly grounds. It follow, however, must dismissed. 5 As correctly understood our cases hold, of" require defendant officer State. enough he willful participant joint State agents. see Adickes S. H. Kress & 398 144, 152, 90 1598, 1605, 26 142 (1970); Price, 383 787, 794, 86 1152, 1156, 16 267 (1966).4 Of course, merely resorting being winning side lawsuit make party co-conspirator actor But here allegations Under allegations, law; consequence respect himself liability. Immunity co-conspirators.5 Indeed, dependent conduct statutory jurisdiction, broadly construed. 349, 356, 98 1104, 331 (1978); supra, 352, 357. connection such construed cases. defective correct rejecting contrary. 6 Petitioner nevertheless insists unless held derived judge, latter's seriously eroded. unpersuaded. immunities recognized equivalents Owen City Independence, 622, 637-638, 1398, 1408-1409, 673 (1980); Imbler Pachtman, 424 409, 417, 96 984, 988, 47 128 (1976); 547, 554, 87 288 (1967), burden claiming demonstrate entitlement. Cf. Butz Economou, 438 478, 506, 2894, 2911, 57 895 (1978). Thus, municipality's assert officers agents rejected since basis right Here, pointed nothing indicating that, historically, insulated judge.6 7 (1972), Speech Debate Clause conferred Senator's aide well Senator, only situations where would protected legislative Senator himself. Id., 618, S.Ct., 2623. actually performing sense Not surprisingly, argue judges order duties may accomplished. 8 urged go trial, necessarily decided, liability, heavily involved, very likely forced testify about defend conduct. true based Clause, Members Congress need respond questions acts, 616-617, 2622-2623; and, general, scope patterned after Clause. U.S., 732-734, 1974-1976. similar constitutionally privilege immunizing third-party litigation. demonstration made excused him sued. Even testifying, follow 9 testifying takes time energy otherwise might devoted duties; survive initial challenge integrity stake designed judiciary aspects accountability. Judges actions, they criminal prosecutions citizens. O'Shea Littleton, 414 488, 503, 94 669, 679, 38 674 (1974). Neither aware generally exempting normal obligation information material civil proceeding.7 Nixon, 418 683, 705-707, 3090, 3106-07, 41 1039 10 Judicial arose interest liberty independent merits fear mulcted should unsatisfied litigant able convince another tribunal acted malice corruption. 1217-1218; Wall., 350 n. terms undermining independence performance, concern examined collateral proceeding conspired, cannot liable defend, same magnitude prospects verdict attendant possibility others. These concerns insubstantial, either public, agree 11 Affirmed. Title provides: "Every who, statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, usage, Territory, subjects, causes subjected, citizen thereof rights, privileges, secured Constitution laws, shall injured equity, proper redress." Slavin Curry, 574 1256 Perez Borchers, 567 285 Humble Foreman, 563 780 (1977); Hill McClellan, 490 859 (1974); Guedry Ford, 431 660 (1970). Kurz Michigan, 548 172 (CA6 1977); Hazo Geltz, 537 747 (CA3 1976); Hansen Ahlgrimm, 520 768 (CA7 1975); Sykes California, 497 197 1974). See 601, 604-605 1965); Briley 564 849, 858, n.10 1977). First some present views Circuit. Slotnick Staviskey, 560 31 Kermit Construction Corp. Banco Credito y Ahorro Ponceno, (1976). Eighth recently agreed. White Bloom, 621 276 respect, Co. follows: "The involvement plainly provides essential show direct violation petitioner's Fourteenth Amendment equal protection police officially authorized, unlawful; Monroe Pape, 365 167 [81 473, 492] (1961); Classic, 313 299, 326 [61 1031, 1043, 85 1368] (1941); Screws 325 91, 107-111 [65 1038-1040, 89 1495] (1945); Williams 341 97, 99-100 [71 576, 578, 95 774] (1951). Moreover, involved conspiracy, State, 'Private prohibited statute. To activity agents,' 794 [86 267] (1966)." 1605 (Footnote omitted.) 242, analog 1983, contains color-of-state-law requirement interpreted sections coextensively. n.7, n.7. A found criminally 242 although 429, 994, case, Insofar issue concerned, interesting note observes courts, is. Brief 28. Whether federal especially alert avoid undue interference system flowing demands appear witnesses addressed time.

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