Opinion
Case: 1:16-cv-01666
08-16-2016
GEORGE V. FULLER, Plaintiff, v. JUDGE ROBERT OKUN, et al., Defendants.
Jury Demand
Assigned To : Unassigned
Assign. Date : 8/17/2016
Description: Pro Se Gen. Civil (F Deck) MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on the plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and his pro se complaint. The Court grants the application and dismisses the complaint with prejudice.
Plaintiff brings this action against Robert Okun, an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He alleges that Judge Okun refused to dismiss a civil action that had been brought against plaintiff in the Superior Court and forced plaintiff to appear for trial. For this alleged deprivation of plaintiff's right to due process, plaintiff demands compensatory and punitive damages.
Judge Okun enjoys absolute immunity from liability for damages for acts taken in his judicial capacity. See Mirales v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9 (1991) (finding that "judicial immunity is an immunity from suit, not just from ultimate assessment of damages"); Forrester v. White, 484 U.S. 219, 226-27 (1988) (discussing "purposes served by judicial immunity from liability in damages"); Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 364 (1978) (concluding that state judge was "immune from damages liability even if his [decision] was in error"); Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 553-54 (1967) ("Few doctrines were more solidly established at common law than the immunity of judges from liability for damages for acts committed within their judicial jurisdiction, as this Court recognized when it adopted the doctrine, in Bradley v. Fisher, 13 Wall. 335, 20 L. Ed. 646 (1872)."). Accordingly, the Court will dismiss this action with prejudice. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii).
An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately. DATE: 8/16/16
/s/_________
United States District Judge