Hammond v. Quick
Hammond v. Quick
Opinion of the Court
In 1998, the appellant, Kenneth Hammond, pled guilty to misdemeanor assault. Since he was on parole at the time of his plea, a parole violator warrant was issued and executed. The District of Columbia Board of Parole (“Board”) subsequently concluded that Mr. Hammond had committed four parole violations. Accordingly, the Board revoked his parole and gave him a set-off date — the time at which he would next be considered for parole — of January 7, 2000. Because this date was longer than that recommended by the Board’s guidelines, Mr. Hammond sought habeas relief in the Superior Court. The Board conceded that it had erred by failing to provide a written explanation for departing from its guidelines, but also indicated it would remedy the error by holding a new revocation hearing for Mr. Hammond, and the trial judge dismissed his habeas petition.
The Board did hold a new hearing and it recommended a new set-off date of April 7, 1999. However, the appellee, Margaret Quick, who was then the Board’s Chair, disagreed and recommended a set-off date of January 6, 2001. The Board apparently concurred and issued an appropriate order. Mr. Hammond again sought habeas relief but was unsuccessful in his efforts. On appeal, however, we reversed and remanded
On remand, the United States Parole Commission
In the meantime, Mr. Hammond sued Ms. Quick, individually, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that she had violated his constitutional rights by increasing his set-off date. The Superior Court granted her motion to dismiss and this appeal followed. Ms. Quick contends the trial court correctly dismissed Mr. Hammond’s case because she is immune from suit under Cunningham v. District of Columbia, 584 A.2d 573 (D.C. 1990). We agree.
It is well established that judges are immune “from liability for acts done in their judicial capacity if the particular act at issue is a ‘judicial act.’” Id. at 576.
[T]he factors determining whether an act by a judge is a “judicial” one relate to the nature of the act itself, i.e., whether it is a function normally performed by a judge, and to the expectations of the parties, i.e., whether they dealt with the judge in his judicial capacity.
Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 362, 98 S.Ct. 1099, 55 L.Ed.2d 331 (1978). The District of Columbia, like many jurisdictions, has recognized that the protection of judicial immunity is not limited to judges but extends to other public officials and employees whose duties relate to the judicial process. Cunningham, 584 A.2d at 576. And, of particular importance to this case, we have held that “parole boards are shielded by judicial immunity when they perform their official duties[.]” Id. at 577. This is necessary since the tasks that parole board officials perform when deciding whether to grant, deny, or revoke parole are functionally equivalent to those performed by a judge. Id. (citing Sellars v. Procunier, 641 F.2d 1295, 1303 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1102, 102 S.Ct. 678, 70 L.Ed.2d 644 (1981)).
Mr. Hammond acknowledges this doctrine, but argues, broadly, that Ms. Quick’s acts are not protected because they were not “judicial” in nature.
In short, we hold that Ms. Quick’s action in recommending a set-off date for Mr. Hammond, which was accepted by the Board, was part and parcel of her official duties in deciding whether to revoke, grant, or deny him parole, and that she is protected from suit under the doctrine of judicial immunity. For this reason, the judgment of the Superior Court is affirmed.
So ordered.
. See Hammond v. District of Columbia Bd. of Parole, 756 A.2d 896, 901 (D.C. 2000).
. See North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969) (a presumption of vindictiveness arises — and consti
.Within a few weeks of our decision in Hammond, supra note 1, the Board was abolished and the Commission assumed responsibility for making parole determinations for D.C.Code offenders. See D.C.Code § 24-131 (2001).
. See Hammond v. United States Parole Comm’n, No. 01-SP-158, at 3, 794 A.2d 635 (D.C. Feb. 5, 2002).
. Mr. Hammond also contends this question is a factual matter which should have been submitted to a jury. That is incorrect, the question is one of law which we consider de novo. See Bono v. Benov, 197 F.3d 409, 411-12 (9th Cir. 1999).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kenneth N. HAMMOND v. Margaret QUICK
- Status
- Published