Pierson v. Ray

Summary

The Court held that a municipal judge is absolutely immune from damages liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for judicial acts within the judge’s jurisdiction. It further held that police officers may invoke a defense of good faith and probable cause when sued under § 1983 for an arrest made under a statute they reasonably believed valid, even if the statute is later declared unconstitutional. The Court rejected the conclusion that the ministers consented to their arrests by anticipating them and remanded for a new trial because the prior verdict was affected by irrelevant and prejudicial cross-examination.