rehberg paulk argued november decided april respondent chief investigator district attorney office testified grand jury proceedings resulted petitioner indictment indictments dismissed petitioner brought action alleging respondent conspired present present false testimony grand jury federal district denied respondent motion dismiss immunity grounds eleventh circuit reversed holding respondent absolute immunity claim based grand jury testimony held witness grand jury proceeding entitled absolute immunity suit witness testifies trial pp section derives civil rights act meant effect radical departure ordinary tort law immunities applicable tort suits see burns reed interpretation reaffirmed time thus looks common law guidance determining scope immunities available actions brought see kalina fletcher taking functional approach see forrester white identifies governmental functions historically viewed important vulnerable interference means litigation form absolute immunity civil liability needed ensure independence without fear consequences pierson ray functional approach tied common law identification functions meriting protection absolute immunity precedents mechanically duplicated precise scope absolute immunity common law provided protect functions example common cases prosecuted private parties enjoy absolute immunity suit prosecutorial function increasingly assumed public officials courts held public prosecutors unlike private predecessors absolutely immune types tort claims aggrieved vengeful criminal defendant likely assert adaptation prosecutorial immunity accommodated special needs public opposed private prosecutors thus issue prosecutorial immunity reached imbler pachtman simply apply scope immunity recognized courts instead relied substantially cases extending broad immunity public prosecutors sued torts neither suggested simply federalized amalgamation claims new federal claim created differs important ways torts accordingly scope new tort scope absolute immunity available actions differ respects common law pp trial witness sued enjoys absolute immunity claim based testimony briscoe lahue without absolute immunity process impaired witnesses might reluctant testify even witness took stand might inclined shade testimony favor potential plaintiff fear subsequent liability factors apply equal force grand jury witnesses contexts witness fear retaliatory litigation may deprive tribunal critical evidence neither context deterrent potential civil liability needed prevent false testimony sanctions chiefly prosecution perjury provide sufficient deterrent reasons identified briscoe supra reason distinguish law enforcement witnesses lay witnesses actions rule grand jury witness absolute immunity claim based witness testimony may circumvented claiming grand jury witness conspired present false testimony using evidence witness testimony support claim concerning initiation maintenance prosecution otherwise criminal defendant turned civil plaintiff reframe claim attack preparatory activity preliminary discussion witness relates substance intended testimony rather absolutely immune actions pp petitioner main argument malley briggs kalina fletcher grand jury witnesses complaining witnesses entitled absolute immunity time predecessor enacted complaining witness party procured arrest initiated criminal prosecution complaining witness might testify either grand jury trial testifying necessary characteristic complaining witness thus testifying whether grand jury trial distinctive function performed complaining witness complaining witness held liable perjurious trial testimony see briscoe reason complaining witness subject liability testimony grand jury distinctive function performed complaining witness understood apparent law enforcement officer testifies grand jury comparable complaining witness officer makes critical decision press criminal charges prosecutor anomalous permit police officer testifying grand jury sued maliciously procuring unjust prosecution prosecutor shielded absolute immunity actually responsible decision initiate prosecution petitioner also contends deterrent effect civil liability needed grand jury proceedings trial witnesses face force argument offset problem allowing civil actions create subversion grand jury secrecy essential proper functioning grand jury system see sells engineering finally contrary petitioner suggestion recognizing absolute immunity grand jury witnesses create insupportable distinction use grand juries permit felony prosecutions brought complaint information require indictment felonies provide preliminary hearing witnesses testify lower courts held preliminary hearing witnesses protected immunity accorded grand jury witnesses pp affirmed alito delivered opinion unanimous opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press charles rehberg petitioner james paulk writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit april justice alito delivered opinion case requires us decide whether complaining witness grand jury proceeding entitled immunity action witness testifies trial see sound reason draw distinction purpose grand jury trial witnesses petitioner charles rehberg certified public accountant sent anonymous faxes several recipients including management hospital albany georgia criticizing hospital management activities response local district attorney office assistance chief investigator respondent james paulk launched criminal investigation petitioner allegedly favor hospital leadership respondent testified grand jury petitioner indicted aggravated assault burglary six counts making harassing telephone calls indictment charged petitioner assaulted hospital physician james hotz unlawfully entering doctor home petitioner challenged sufficiency indictment dismissed months later respondent returned grand jury petitioner indicted time assaulting hotz august making harassing phone calls occasion doctor respondent testified petitioner challenged sufficiency second indictment claiming nowhere near hotz date question evidence whatsoever committed assault anybody indictment dismissed second indictment still pending respondent appeared grand jury third time yet another indictment returned petitioner charged assault making harassing phone calls final indictment ultimately dismissed well petitioner brought action respondent rev stat petitioner alleged respondent conspired present present false testimony grand jury respondent moved dismiss arguing among things entitled absolute immunity grand jury testimony district middle district georgia denied respondent motion dismiss appeals reversed holding accordance circuit precedent respondent absolutely immune claim based grand jury testimony appeals noted petitioner allegation respondent sole complaining witness grand jury appeals declined recognize complaining witness exception precedent grand jury witness immunity see llowing civil suits false grand jury testimony reasoned emasculate confidential nature grand jury testimony eviscerate traditional absolute immunity witness testimony judicial proceedings went hold respondent entitled absolute immunity respect claims based directly grand jury testimony also respect claim conspired present testimony allow liability predicated alleged conspiracy concluded permit back door prohibited front ibid quoting jones cannon granted certiorari resolve circuit conflict regarding immunity complaining witness grand jury proceeding affirm ii section derives civil rights act stat creates private right action vindicate violations rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws terms statute person acts color state law deprive another constitutional right answerable person suit damages imbler pachtman citing despite broad terms long recognized statute meant effect radical departure ordinary tort law immunities applicable tort suits see burns reed years ago tenney brandhove held abrogate absolute immunity enjoyed legislators actions taken within legitimate sphere legislative authority immunities well grounded history reason wrote somehow eliminated covert inclusion general language interpretation reaffirmed time entrenched feature jurisprudence see pierson ray legislative record gives clear indication congress meant abolish wholesale immunities accordingly held immunity legislators acts within legislative role abolished immunity judges acts within judicial role equally well established presume congress specifically provided wished abolish doctrine imbler supra statute must read harmony general principles tort immunities defenses rather derogation procunier navarette although recognized enacting congress must intended expose state officials damages liability circumstances section consistently construed intending wholesale revocation immunity afforded government officials briscoe lahue well settled tort liability created understood historical vacuum one important assumption underlying decisions area members congress familiar principles including defenses previously recognized ordinary tort litigation likely intended principles obtain absent specific provisions quoting newport fact concerts pulliam allen starting point analysis common law cases proceeded assumption principles immunity incorporated judicial system abrogated absent clear legislative intent recognizing congress intended construed light principles looked common law guidance determining scope immunities available action kalina fletcher simply make judgment need immunity made clear role make freewheeling policy choice malley briggs license create immunities based solely view sound policy see tower glover instead conduct considered inquiry immunity historically accorded relevant official common law interests behind imbler supra take termed functional approach see forrester white burns supra consult common law identify governmental functions historically viewed important vulnerable interference means litigation form absolute immunity civil liability needed ensure performed independence without fear consequences pierson supra quoting bradley fisher wall taking approach identified following functions absolutely immune liability damages actions taken legislators within legitimate scope legislative authority see tenney supra actions taken judges within legitimate scope judicial authority see pierson supra actions taken prosecutors role advocates see imbler giving testimony witnesses trial see briscoe supra contrast found absolute immunity acts chief executive officer state senior subordinate officers state national guard president state university see scheuer rhodes school board members see wood strickland superintendent state hospital see donaldson police officers see pierson supra prison officials officers procunier supra private judge see dennis sparks functional approach tied common law identification functions merit protection absolute immunity precedents mechanically duplicated precise scope absolute immunity common law provided protect functions see burns precise contours official immunity need mirror immunity common law quoting anderson creighton approach illustrated analysis absolute immunity enjoyed today public prosecutors predecessor enacted common criminal cases prosecuted private parties see stewart sonneborn bradley dissenting man community probable cause prosecuting another perfect right law institute prosecution subject case private prosecutions penalty paying costs fails suit private prosecutors like private plaintiffs civil suits enjoy absolute immunity suit see malley citing cases instead generally accepted rule private complainant procured arrest prosecution held liable action malicious prosecution complainant acted malice without probable cause see see also briscoe marshall dissenting english american courts routinely permitted plaintiffs bring actions alleging defendant made false malicious accusation felony magistrate judicial officer wheeler nesbitt undoubtedly every person puts criminal law force maliciously without reasonable probable cause commits wrongful act accused thereby prejudiced either person property injury loss sustained constitute proper foundation action recover compensation dinsman wilkes immunity party maliciously without probable cause procured plaintiff indicted arrested offence guilty decades adoption civil rights act however prosecutorial function increasingly assumed public officials courts held public prosecutors unlike private predecessors absolutely immune types tort claims aggrieved vengeful criminal defendant likely assert namely claims malicious prosecution defamation see imbler supra white concurring judgment kalina supra noting cases decided granted broader immunity public prosecutors available malicious prosecution actions private persons brought prosecutions early common law see also burns supra scalia concurring judgment part dissenting part noting tradition prosecutorial immunity developed much later adaptation prosecutorial immunity accommodated special needs public opposed private prosecutors daily function public prosecutor bring criminal charges tort claims public prosecutors expected frequency defendant often transform resentment prosecuted ascription improper malicious actions state advocate imbler harassment unfounded litigation cause deflection prosecutor energies public duties result severe interference administration important public office constant vulnerability vexatious litigation give rise possibility prosecutor shade decisions instead exercising independence judgment required public trust ibid thus issue prosecutorial immunity reached imbler simply apply scope immunity recognized courts instead placed substantial reliance cases extending broad immunity public prosecutors sued torts looked common law determining scope absolute immunity available suggested simply federalized amalgamation claims federal claim encompassing torts assault trespass false arrest defamation malicious prosecution new federal claim created differs important ways torts broader reaches constitutional statutory violations correspond previously known tort see kalina narrower applies tortfeasors act color state law see briscoe supra section ha precise counterpart state law purest coincidence state statutes common law provide equivalent remedies analogies causes action bound imperfect wilson garcia internal quotation marks citation omitted thus scope new tort scope absolute immunity available actions differ respects common law iii common law trial witnesses enjoyed limited form absolute immunity statements made course judicial proceeding complete immunity slander libel claims even alleged statements question maliciously false kalina supra scalia concurring citing hilliard law torts see briscoe supra marshall dissenting burns opinion scalia briscoe however held immunity trial witness sued broader case trial witness absolute immunity respect claim based witness testimony witness sued testimony wrote claims individual must yield dictates public policy quoting calkins sumner without absolute immunity witnesses concluded process trial impaired witnesses might reluctant come forward testify even witness took stand witness might inclined shade testimony favor potential plaintiff fear subsequent liability factors justify absolute immunity trial witnesses apply equal force grand jury witnesses contexts witness fear retaliatory litigation may deprive tribunal critical evidence neither context deterrent potential civil liability needed prevent perjurious testimony briscoe concluded possibility civil liability needed deter false testimony trial sanctions chiefly prosecution perjury provided sufficient deterrent since perjury grand jury like perjury trial serious criminal offense see reason think deterrent less effective preventing false grand jury testimony neither reason distinguish law enforcement witnesses lay witnesses briscoe argued absolute immunity needed witnesses refused draw distinction wrote police officer appears witness may reasonably viewed acting like witness sworn tell truth event make strong claim witness immunity alternatively may regarded official performing critical role judicial process event may seek benefit afforded governmental participants proceeding nothing language statute suggests witness belongs narrow special category lacking protection damages suits omitted see also police officer witness stand performs functions witness briscoe rebuffed two arguments distinguishing law enforcement witnesses lay witnesses immunity purposes first absolute immunity needed law enforcement witnesses less likely intimidated threat suit second witnesses shielded absolute immunity false testimony police officer likely damaging false testimony lay witness see ibid observed factors applicable lay witnesses weigh favor extending absolute immunity police officer witnesses first police officers testify frequency police officers testify scores cases every year noted defendants often transform resentment convicted allegations perjury state official witnesses ibid police officer witnesses routinely forced defend claims based testimony attention diverted pressing duty enforcing criminal law quoting imbler second police officer witness potential liability conditioned exoneration accused influence decisions appeal collateral relief needless say decisions influenced likelihood subsequent civil rights action possibility decision favorable accused might subject police officer witness liability create injecting extraneous appellate review postconviction proceedings ibid quoting imbler supra addition law enforcement witnesses face possibility sanctions applicable lay witnesses namely loss jobs sanctions reasons conclude grand jury witnesses enjoy immunity witnesses trial means grand jury witness absolute immunity claim based witness testimony addition appeals held rule may circumvented claiming grand jury witness conspired present false testimony using evidence witness testimony support claim concerning initiation maintenance prosecution otherwise criminal defendant turned civil plaintiff simply reframe claim attack preparation instead absolutely immune actions buckley fitzsimmons kennedy concurring part dissenting part see also dykes hosemann per curiam udges mere allegations conspiracy prior agreement hauled made defend judicial acts precise result judicial immunity designed avoid vast majority cases involving claim grand jury witness witness prosecutor conducting investigation engage preparatory activity preliminary discussion witness relates substance intended testimony decline endorse rule absolute immunity easily iv petitioner main argument cases chiefly malley kalina already establish complaining witness shielded absolute immunity see brief petitioner cases law enforcement officials submitted affidavits support applications arrest warrants denied absolute immunity performed function complaining witness kalina see malley relying cases petitioner contends certain grand jury witnesses namely qualify complaining witnesses entitled absolute immunity petitioner argument based fundamental misunderstanding distinctive function played complaining witness period predecessor enacted time term complaining witness used refer party procured arrest initiated criminal prosecution see kalina scalia concurring complaining witness might actually ever testify thus term witness misleading ibid see also malley supra complaining witness procure issuance arrest warrant submitting complaint wyatt cole complaining witness set wheels government motion instigating legal action true century complaining witness might testify either grand jury trial testifying necessary characteristic complaining witness see newell malicious prosecution presented evidence witnesses testify grand jury regarded complaining witnesses successfully sued malicious prosecution see tr oral arg sum testifying whether grand jury trial distinctive function performed complaining witness clear petitioner contend otherwise complaining witness held liable perjurious trial testimony briscoe reason complaining witness subject liability testimony grand jury distinctive function performed complaining witness understood apparent law enforcement officer testifies grand jury comparable complaining witness testifying grand jury law enforcement officer perform function applying arrest warrant officer make critical decision initiate prosecution course true detective case agent performed supervised investigative work case may serve important witness grand jury proceeding may much want grand jury return indictment witness unlike complaining witness common law make decision press criminal charges instead almost always prosecutor responsible decision present case grand jury many jurisdictions even indictment handed prosecution proceed unless prosecutor signs thus anomalous permit police officer testifies grand jury sued maliciously procuring unjust prosecution prosecutor shielded absolute immunity actually responsible decision prosecute see albright oliver ginsburg concurring prosecutor principal player carrying prosecution see ibid star player exonerated supporting actor precisely grand jury witness power initiate prosecution petitioner unable provide workable standard determining whether particular grand jury witness complaining witness respondent witness testify two three grand jury sessions resulted indictments multiple witnesses testify grand jury identifying complaining witness often difficult petitioner suggests complaining witness someone sets prosecution motion tr oral arg see reply brief petitioner petitioner maintains distinction made common law complaining witnesses witnesses applies actions see explained complaining witness played distinctive role therefore even complaining witness testified clear basis distinguishing complaining witness witnesses modern grand jury witness plays comparable role petitioner proposed test little use consider case case agent lead detective testifies grand jury provides wealth background information cooperating witness appears furnishes critical incriminating testimony suppose two witnesses provide essential testimony regarding different counts indictment different elements offense cases witnesses complaining witnesses thus vulnerable suit based testimony petitioner contends deterrent effect civil liability needed grand jury context trial witnesses exposed designed expose perjury see brief petitioner argument overlooks fact critical grand jury witness likely testify trial may time event force petitioner argument offset special problem created allowing civil actions grand jury witnesses subversion grand jury consistently recognized proper functioning grand jury system depends upon secrecy grand jury proceedings sells engineering quoting douglas oil petrol stops northwest preindictment proceedings made public many prospective witnesses hesitant come forward voluntarily knowing testify aware testimony moreover witnesses appeared grand jury less likely testify fully frankly open retribution allowing actions grand jury witnesses compromise vital secrecy testimony witnesses grand jury provide basis used evidence supporting claim identities grand jury witnesses discovered filing action moving disclosure transcript grand jury proceedings especially cases involving violent criminal organizations subjects might retaliate adverse grand jury witnesses threat disclosure might seriously undermine grand jury process finally contrary petitioner suggestion recognizing absolute immunity grand jury witnesses create insupportable distinction use grand juries petitioner argues make sense distinguish purposes immunity prosecutions initiated return grand jury indictment initiated filing complaint information notes permit felony prosecutions brought information brief petitioner petitioner draws wrong analogy permit felony prosecutions initiated information closest analog grand jury witness witness preliminary hearing require indictment felonies provide preliminary hearing witnesses testify see lafave lower courts held witnesses preliminary hearing protected immunity accorded grand jury witnesses see brice nkaru curtis bembenek citing cases petitioner argue otherwise see tr oral arg reasons hold grand jury witness entitled immunity trial witness accordingly judgment appeals eleventh circuit affirmed footnotes course suggest absolute immunity extends activity witness conducts outside grand jury room example accorded qualified immunity law enforcement officials falsify affidavits see kalina fletcher malley briggs fabricate evidence concerning unsolved crime see buckley federal courts concluded uniformly rule federal rules criminal procedure providing indictment must signed attorney government precludes federal grand juries issuing indictment without prosecutor signature signifying approval see lafave israel king kerr criminal procedure ed hereinafter lafave however jurisdictions grand jury may return indictment initiate prosecution without prosecutor signature cases rare see beale bryson felman elston grand jury law practice ed petitioner says reason distinguish person goes police swear criminal complaint person testifies facts grand jury purpose effect brief petitioner like saying bicycle thing even functions similar general matter entities quite different grand juries tradition statute sometimes constitutional mandate status entitlement information absolute immunity furthers see imbler pachtman functional comparability judgments judge resulted grand jurors prosecutors referred officers immunities termed well see also sells engineering grand jury always occupied high place instrument justice system criminal law much enshrined constitution holding today supports functioning grand jury system importance grand jury underestimated federal system many see lafave felony charged without consent community representatives vital protection unwarranted prosecutions