The opinion
Opinions of the United
2005 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
9-19-2005
Saunders-El v. USA
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 04-2986
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"Saunders-El v. USA" (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 531.
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
Nos. 04-2986 & 04-4755
EDWARD B. SAUNDERS-EL,
Appellant
v.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JUDGE DITTER;
JUDGES BECHTLE; SHAPIRO; DEBEVOISE, WEINER;
NAMED AND UNAMED CONSPIRATORS DEFENDANTS
____________________________________
On Appeal From the United States District Court
For the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civ. No. 04-cv-01625)
District Judge: Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno
_______________________________________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
August 4, 2005
BEFORE: ALITO, SMITH and COWEN, CIRCUIT JUDGES
(Filed: September 19, 2005)
_______________________
OPINION
_______________________
PER CURIAM
Edward Saunders-El, a pro se litigant, filed a complaint in which he alleged that
the defendant federal district court judges engaged in a conspiracy of racial and class-
based discrimination in violation of his federal rights. Saunders-El claims that the judges
violated his civil rights by, inter alia, denying habeas relief, dismissing numerous
complaints, and adversely ruling on motions in previous civil actions that he filed.
Saunders-El sought damages and injunctive relief.
The District Court found that Saunders-El’s claims against the United States are
barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity. In addition, the court found that because
all of the claims against the federal judges involved actions taken in their official judicial
capacity, they are immune from suit. Thus, on June 11, 2004, the District Court sua
sponte dismissed the complaint. Saunders-El timely filed a motion for reconsideration
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e). Before the District Court ruled on the
motion, Saunders-El filed a notice of appeal from the final judgment (C.A. No. 04-2986).
Saunders-El filed several subsequent motions in the District Court. On December 20,
2004, the District Court denied all pending motions, and Saunders-El appealed that ruling
(C.A. No. 04-4755). The appeals have been consolidated for disposition.
Saunders-El contends that the District Court improperly applied judicial immunity
to his claims against the judges. See Br. at 3. It is well established that “judges
defending against § 1983 actions enjoy absolute immunity from damages liability for acts
performed in their judicial capacities.” Dennis v. Sparks, 449 U.S. 24, 27 (1980). Here,
the record indicates that the acts complained of– denying habeas relief, dismissing
numerous complaints, and ruling on motions– were clearly all performed in the judges’
official capacity. Therefore, the judges are immune. See Gallas v. Supreme Court of Pa.,
211 F.3d 760, 768-73 (3d Cir. 2000). Accordingly, the District Court properly dismissed
Saunders-El’s civil rights claims.
We have fully considered all of the arguments raised by Saunders-El on appeal,
and find that they lack merit and warrant no further discussion. For the foregoing
reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment. Appellant’s motion for recusal of
Judges Smith and Cowen is denied. Appellees’ motion for summary affirmance is denied
as moot.