Kowalski v. Kelley

Appellate Case: 25-1380 Document: 6-1 Date Filed: 12/03/2025 Page: 1

FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT December 3, 2025

_________________________________

Christopher M. Wolpert

Clerk of Court ROBERT G. KOWALSKI,

Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 25-1380

(D.C. No. 1:25-CV-02382-LTB-RTG) ELIZABETH H. KELLEY, (D. Colo.)

Defendant - Appellee.

_________________________________ ORDER AND JUDGMENT * _________________________________

Before MATHESON, PHILLIPS, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges.

_________________________________ Robert G. Kowalski appeals the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against State of Colorado Magistrate Judge Elizabeth H. Kelley in her individual and official capacities. His amended complaint alleged that she violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection. It also alleged that she violated the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined * unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.

A federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of Mr. Kowalski’s individual capacity claims based on judicial immunity. He recommended dismissal of the official capacity claims based on Eleventh Amendment immunity. Mr. Kowalski objected. The district court agreed with the recommendations and entered judgment for Magistrate Judge Kelley.

Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm dismissal of the individual capacity claims, vacate dismissal of the official capacity claims, and remand for further proceedings. 1

A. Factual Allegations

The amended complaint alleged as follows.

Magistrate Judge Kelley presided over the child custody proceeding following a decree dissolving Mr. Kowalski’s marriage. ROA at 452. During an in-camera interview with his teenage son, she referred to Mr. Kowalski as “toxic.” Id. at 449, 453. She permitted his spouse’s counsel to join the interview but excluded Mr. Kowalski. Id. at 449. When counsel reported that Mr. Kowalski had walked out of the courthouse, she used this information to “fabricate[] a perceived danger” and made a “suggestion of ordering a Sheriff’s escort” for the son. Id. at 450. She ruled that Mr. Kowalski had caused emotional harm to his son and removed the son and his daughter from his care. Id. at 450-51. She also ordered that he undergo psychological testing. Id. at 452. Finally, her procedural rulings allegedly showed a pattern of bias. Id. at 463.

B. Discussion

1. Individual Capacity Claims – Judicial Immunity

The federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of the individual capacity claims based on judicial immunity because Magistrate Judge Kelley’s statement at the in-camera interview was not made “in the clear absence of all jurisdiction.” Id. at 469-70.

Mr. Kowalski filed objections, contending that “Defendant Kelley acted without any colorable claim of jurisdiction” when she made the statement, ordered him to undergo a psychological evaluation, and ordered a Sheriff’s escort for his son based on a “fabricated threat.” Id. at 484-89. 2 The district court rejected these objections without explanation and adopted the federal magistrate’s recommendation. Id. at 519-20.

On appeal, Mr. Kowalski again asserts that Magistrate Kelley acted without jurisdiction. Aplt. Br. at 2, 11-17. Although neither the federal magistrate judge nor the district judge addressed the psychological evaluation order or the “fabricated threat” escort, his arguments on judicial immunity are unavailing. 3

Federal courts have “consistently adhered to the rule that judges defending against § 1983 actions enjoy absolute immunity from damages liability for acts performed in their judicial capacities.” Beedle v. Wilson, 422 F.3d 1059, 1072 (10th Cir. 2005) (quotations omitted). A judge having subject matter jurisdiction over the alleged action is immune from suit. Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 355-56 (1978). “A judge will not be deprived of immunity because the action he took was in error, was done maliciously, or was in excess of his authority; rather, he will be subject to liability only when he has acted in the clear absence of all jurisdiction.” Id. at 356-57 (quotations omitted).

Mr. Kowalski does not dispute that the state court had jurisdiction over the child custody matter. See Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 14-13-101 et. seq. He argues that Magistrate Judge Kelley clearly acted outside the court’s jurisdiction. But the amended complaint does not support his argument. She made her comments at the in-camera interview in exercise of her jurisdiction. The same point applies to the protective escort.

As for ordering the psychological evaluation, in Colorado “[a] district court may order a parent to complete psychological counseling when it is in the child’s best interests.” In re Marriage of Isaac and Ball, No. 19CA1981, 2021 WL 12343917 at *4 (Colo. App. Feb. 4, 2021) ; see also In re Marriage of Neri, No. 20CA1574, 2021 WL 12341817, at *1 (Colo. App. Nov. 18, 2021) (recognizing use of psychological evaluations in Colorado dissolution and child custody cases); In re Marriage of Yates, 148 P.3d 304, 307 (Colo. App. 2006); In re Marriage of Henne, 620 P.2d 62, 63 (Colo. App. 1980) (same). 4

We affirm dismissal of the § 1983 individual capacity claims based on judicial immunity. 5

2. Official Capacity Claims – Eleventh Amendment

The federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of the official capacity claims, explaining they should be considered to be claims against the State of Colorado, which is generally entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity. He said the exception to immunity under Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908), for prospective relief does not apply because “there is no indication that any federal violation is ongoing.” ROA at 471-72.

In his objections to the recommendation, Mr. Kowalski argued, referring to the psychological evaluation and Ex parte Young, that the alleged “unconstitutional actions . . . are continuing and ongoing, and will necessarily occur in the future absent action providing prospective declaratory and/or injunctive relief.” Id. at 478. He pointed out that the recommendation did not address the psychological evaluation. Id. at 481. As noted above, the district court order adopting the federal magistrate’s recommendation rejected Mr. Kowalski’s objections without explanation. Id. at 519-20.

On appeal, Mr. Kowalski again relies on Ex parte Young, argues the psychological evaluation order is an ongoing violation, and notes that neither the federal magistrate judge nor the district judge considered this point in addressing his official capacity claims. Aplt. Br. at 17-20.

The amended complaint relied specifically on the psychological evaluation order in the due process claim. ROA at 451-52. For relief on that claim, it briefly “prays for” “declarative and injunctive relief.” Id. at 465.

The federal magistrate said Mr. Kowalski’s “claims against Defendant Kelley in her official capacity are barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity unless Plaintiff is seeking prospective injunctive relief.” Id. at 470. He found that Magistrate Judge Kelley’s statement during the in-camera interview was not an ongoing violation but rather a “past harm[]” and “does not fall into the Ex parte Young exception to state sovereign immunity.” Id. at 472.

The federal magistrate judge and district judge did not address whether the psychological evaluation order is an ongoing violation for which Mr. Kowalski requested prospective relief under Ex parte Young. Without the benefit of analysis from the district court or any briefing on this issue from the official capacity defendant, “we believe the prudent course is to remand the matter to the district court to perform a more complete analysis.” Ellis v. Salt Lake City Corp., 147 F.4th 1206, 1230 (10th Cir. 2025).

C. Conclusion

We affirm the district court’s dismissal of the individual capacity claims. We vacate the dismissal of the official capacity claims and remand for further consideration.

Entered for the Court Scott M. Matheson, Jr. Circuit Judge