RICKLEY

Natasha Roit (argued), Malibu, CA; Christopher L. Campbell, Los Angeles, CA, for the appellant.

Andrea Sheridan Ordin, County Counsel, and Casey C. Yourn, Deputy County Counsel, Office of County Counsel, Deborah J. Fox (argued) and Philip A. Seymour, Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver & Wilson, Los Angeles, CA, for the appellees.

Before: MICHAEL DALY HAWKINS and RAYMOND C. FISHER, Circuit Judges, and MARK L. WOLF, District Judge. [*]

FISHER, Circuit Judge:

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 , we hold that a successful civil rights plaintiff may recover a reasonable attorney's fee for legal services performed by her attorney-spouse.

Rebecca Rickley filed this federal civil rights action against the County of Los Angeles and individual County employees (collectively, the "County"), alleging violations of her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection. She alleged that the County harassed her in retaliation for her complaints about the County's failure to enforce building and safety codes against her Malibu neighbors.

Rickley and Natasha Roit are legally married and co-own property in Malibu where they both reside. Their home, as well as their neighbors' homes, are located…