Crump
Steven Crump v. Joann Kingston, et al.
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 STEVEN CRUMP, Case No. 25-cv-06548-EMC (EMC)
Plaintiff,
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR
v. ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
JOANN KINGSTON, et al., Docket No. 26, 27 Defendants.
12 Plaintiff Steven Crump seeks leave to serve Defendants Joann Kingston and Gloria Rhynes by an alternative service method. Dkt. No. 26. Joann Kingston was an Alameda County Public Defender. Gloria Rhynes was an Alameda County Superior Court Judge. Judges are entitled to absolute immunity for acts within their judicial capacity, even if taken in error or in an excess of authority. See Meek v. County of Riverside, 183 F.3d 962, 965 (9th Cir. 1999). Plaintiff alleges that Judge Rhynes violated his rights by imposing an “unauthorized sentence” upon him. Dkt. No. 4 at 12. Given that imposing a sentence is a judicial act, Judge Rhynes cannot be held liable for it. As to Joann Kingston, it is settled law that “a public defender does not act under…