                                                                                                                           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Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential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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Recommended Citation
"Saunders-El v. USA" (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 531.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2005/531


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                                           NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.
