Yet, judge-created judicial and prosecutorial immunity was declared by the court to be justified SPECIFICALLY by availability of judicial discipline as an alternative to lawsuits against judges for money damages.
And, if discipline in federal courts is not available against judges, immunity for misconduct in office, during court proceedings, or "related to" court proceedings should not be available either.
Here is yet another federal statute, "Proceedings in Vindication of Civil Rights, Attorney Fees", 42 U.S.C. 1988(b):
"(b) Attorney’s fees
In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of sections 1981, 1981a, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 of this title, title IX of Public Law 92–318 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.], the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 [42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.], the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 2000cc et seq.], title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.], or section 13981 of this title,
the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other
than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the
costs, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for
an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity such
officer shall not be held liable for any costs, including attorney’s
fees, unless such action was clearly in excess of such officer’s
jurisdiction."
The statute clearly enumerates what exactly cannot be charged against a judge:
costs and attorney fees, UNLESS the judge's actions was clearly IN EXCESS of such officer's jurisdiction.
Now, immunity is given to judges - by judges - UNLESS the judges acts in CLEAR ABSENCE OF ALL JURISDICTION, and is routinely awarded for acts in excess of jurisdiction.
If immunity is awarded for acts in excess of jurisdiction and case is dismissed against a judge without reaching the merits, whether the judge acted in excess of jurisdiction, how can costs and attorney fees be awarded in such a situation (which is allowed by 42 U.S.C. 1988(b)?
It is clear that the clumsily cut immunity from costs and attorney fees only (not from money damages, nominal, actual or punitive) was the result of judicial lobbying.
Yet, lobbying did not acquire complete immunity FROM SUIT, OR FROM MONEY DAMAGES, only from costs and attorney fees, and with an important exception that federal courts ignore.
When judges ignore the law that is clear and unambiguous and part of three statutes:
1) Judicial Misconduct and Disability Act, 28 U.S.C. 352 providing for no judicial discipline and thus warranting private lawsuits against judges as an alternative, to obtain a remedy for injuries inflicted on individual through judicial misconduct and/or corruption in the office of federal judges;
2) Attorney fees for vindication of civil rights, 42 U.S.C. 1988(b) that specifically provides for costs and attorney fees for judicial acts in excess of their jurisdiction, a relief that is unavailable if the case is dismissed (as such cases are now) on "jurisdictional grounds" of judicial immunity at the stage when the complaint containing allegations of such excess of jurisdiction was just filed, before the answer, discovery or trial;
3) The Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1983 that provides for a private right to sue "every person" who "under the color of state law" violates an individual's constitutional rights.
By the way, judges recognized that 42 U.S.C. 1983 applies to federal officials, too - through a so-called Bivens Action.
So, a Bivens action should be available against federal judges - under these three statutes, for money damages for their misconduct and/or corruption in office, and especially for acts in excess of jurisdiction, which happens often.
The statute clearly enumerates what exactly cannot be charged against a judge:
costs and attorney fees, UNLESS the judge's actions was clearly IN EXCESS of such officer's jurisdiction.
Now, immunity is given to judges - by judges - UNLESS the judges acts in CLEAR ABSENCE OF ALL JURISDICTION, and is routinely awarded for acts in excess of jurisdiction.
If immunity is awarded for acts in excess of jurisdiction and case is dismissed against a judge without reaching the merits, whether the judge acted in excess of jurisdiction, how can costs and attorney fees be awarded in such a situation (which is allowed by 42 U.S.C. 1988(b)?
It is clear that the clumsily cut immunity from costs and attorney fees only (not from money damages, nominal, actual or punitive) was the result of judicial lobbying.
Yet, lobbying did not acquire complete immunity FROM SUIT, OR FROM MONEY DAMAGES, only from costs and attorney fees, and with an important exception that federal courts ignore.
When judges ignore the law that is clear and unambiguous and part of three statutes:
1) Judicial Misconduct and Disability Act, 28 U.S.C. 352 providing for no judicial discipline and thus warranting private lawsuits against judges as an alternative, to obtain a remedy for injuries inflicted on individual through judicial misconduct and/or corruption in the office of federal judges;
2) Attorney fees for vindication of civil rights, 42 U.S.C. 1988(b) that specifically provides for costs and attorney fees for judicial acts in excess of their jurisdiction, a relief that is unavailable if the case is dismissed (as such cases are now) on "jurisdictional grounds" of judicial immunity at the stage when the complaint containing allegations of such excess of jurisdiction was just filed, before the answer, discovery or trial;
3) The Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1983 that provides for a private right to sue "every person" who "under the color of state law" violates an individual's constitutional rights.
By the way, judges recognized that 42 U.S.C. 1983 applies to federal officials, too - through a so-called Bivens Action.
So, a Bivens action should be available against federal judges - under these three statutes, for money damages for their misconduct and/or corruption in office, and especially for acts in excess of jurisdiction, which happens often.
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