Bennett v. Matthews ( 2016 )

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FILED
UNITED sTATEs DISTRICT CoURT OCT 25 203
FoR THE DIsTRICT oF CoLUMBIA cum U_S. msmct and
Bankruptcy Courts
IRA JEROME BENNETT, §
Plaintiff, §
v. § Civil Action No. l6-()815 (UNA)
DENTON l\/IATTHEWS, et al., §
Defendants. §
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The plaintiff has been detained at the Charleston County Detention Center upon his arrest
on November lO, 2015, on charges of first degree burglary and possession of a firearm during a
violent crime. Compl. at 3. lt appears that the plaintiff remains in custody because he cannot
afford bond. Ia’. at 4. The plaintiff brings this action against the presiding judge, the prosecutor,
and his public defender for alleged “willful deprivations of constitutional rights.” Id. at 2. He
demands dismissal of the criminal charges against him, expungement of his criminal record, and
damages of$l .5 million. Ia'. at 5.
The Court presumes that plaintiff proceeds under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and dismisses the
complaint because it fails to state a claim upon Which relief can be granted Judge Gosnell
enjoys absolute immunity from liability for damages for acts taken in his judicial capacity. See,
e.g., Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 364 (1978); Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 553-54
(1967). Solicitor Matthews, the prosecutor, also enjoys absolute immune from a suit for
damages. See ]mbler v. Palchman, 424 U.S. 409, 427 (1976). And l\/Is. Van Pala in her capacity
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as “a public defender does not act under color of state law When performing a lawyer’s
traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.” Polk Cnlfy. v. Doa’son,
454 U.S. 312, 325 (1981); see Rz'ce v. Distrl``ct ofColumbl'a Pub. Def. Serv., 531 F. Supp. 2d 202,
204 (D.D.C. 2008).
The Court will grant the plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss
this action. An Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
DATE; /'O 024 /;Le/Q /QCL,(Z //,.M’
United S%(w:s District Judge