But the law does not support McCrea's position. In Daul v. Meckus, 897 F. Supp. 606, 608-11 (D.D.C. 1995), aff'd sub nom. Daul v. Meckus, 107 F.3d 922 (D.C. Cir. 1996), the district court dismissed constitutional claims against an administrative law judge and a "judicial officer" who issued decisions on appeal from an animal welfare license revocation. Citing "a long line of Supreme Court precedent," the court noted that judges are generally immune from lawsuits for money damages, and such immunity "may not be overcome even by allegations of bad faith or malice."

See, e.g., Rude v. The Dancing Crab at Wash. Harbour, LP, 245 F.R.D. 18, 24 (D.D.C. 2007); Daul v. Meckus, 897 F.Supp. 606, 611-12 (D.D.C. 1995); see also NRM Corp. v. Hercules, Inc., 758 F.2d 676, 682 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (holding judge appropriately may dispose of question of law in summary judgment motion where resolution of the case turned on interpretation of contract whose language was unambiguous). B. Standards for Review of Administrative Decisions Under theIDEA

In general, judges are immune from suit for money damages. Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9 (1991); Cleavinger v. Saxner, 474 U.S. 193 (1985); Butz v. Economou, 438 U.S. 478 (1978); Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547 (1967); see Moore v. Motz, 437 F. Supp. 2d 88, 91 (D.D.C. 2006) (absolute judicial immunity bars pro se plaintiff's claims against federal judges stemming from acts taken in their judicial capacities); Daul v. Meckus, 897 F. Supp. 606, 610 (D.D.C. 1995) ("[A]dministrative law judges and judicial review officers are entitled to absolute immunity from suit for their judicial acts."), aff'd per curiam, 107 F.3d 922 (D.C. Cir. 1996).

Thus, so long as the act involves a judicial function, immunity applies regardless of whether the plaintiff is suing the judge in her individual or official capacity. Daul v. Meckus, 897 F. Supp. 606, 611 (D.D.C. 1995), aff'd, 107 F.3d 922 (D.C. Cir. 1996) (per curiam); see also Forbush v. Zaleski, 20 Fed. Appx. 481, 482 (6th Cir. 2001) (applying judicial immunity to a judge sued in his individual and official capacities for actions within the scope of his official duties). The acts of assigning a case, ruling on pretrial matters, and rendering a decision are all within a judge's judicial capacity.