imbler pachtman argued november decided march petitioner convicted murder unsuccessfully petitioned state habeas corpus basis respondent prosecuting attorney revelation newly discovered evidence charged respondent knowingly used false testimony suppressed material evidence petitioner trial petitioner thereafter filed federal habeas corpus petition based allegations ultimately obtained release brought action respondent others seeking damages loss liberty allegedly caused unlawful prosecution district held respondent immune liability appeals affirmed held state prosecuting attorney acted within scope duties initiating pursuing criminal prosecution presenting state case absolutely immune civil suit damages alleged deprivations accused constitutional rights pp section read harmony general principles tort immunities defenses rather derogation tenney brandhove pp considerations public policy underlie rule absolute immunity prosecutor suit malicious prosecution likewise dictate absolute immunity although immunity leaves genuinely wronged criminal defendant without civil redress prosecutor whose malicious dishonest action deprives liberty alternative qualifying prosecutor immunity disserve broader public interest prevent vigorous fearless performance prosecutor duty essential proper functioning criminal justice system often prejudice criminal defendants skewing judicial decisions made sole purpose insuring justice pp powell delivered opinion burger stewart blackmun rehnquist joined white filed opinion concurring judgment brennan marshall joined post stevens took part consideration decision case roger hanson argued cause filed brief petitioner john farrell argued cause respondent brief john larson solicitor general bork argued cause amicus curiae brief acting assistant attorney general keeney deputy solicitor general friedman harry sachse jerome feit evelle younger attorney general jack winkler chief assistant attorney general clark moore assistant attorney general russell iungerich edward fogel deputy attorneys general filed brief state california amicus curiae urging affirmance joseph busch patrick healy filed brief national district attorneys association amicus curiae justice powell delivered opinion question presented case whether state prosecuting attorney acted within scope duties initiating pursuing criminal prosecution amenable suit alleged deprivations defendant constitutional rights appeals ninth circuit held affirm events culminated suit span many years several judicial proceedings began january two men attempted rob los angeles market run morris hasson one shot fatally wounded hasson two fled different directions ten days later leonard lingo killed attempting robbery pomona two accomplices escaped paul imbler petitioner case turned next day one accomplices subsequent investigation led los angeles district attorney believe imbler lingo perpetrated first crime well imbler killed hasson imbler charged felony murder hasson death state case consisted eyewitness testimony hasson wife identification testimony three men seen hasson assailants fleeing shooting hasson unable identify gunman hat obscured face police photographs identified killer companion leonard lingo primary identification witness alfred costello passerby night crime testified clear view gunman emerged market moments later fleeing gunman losing hat turned fire shot costello shed coat continuing costello positively identified imbler gunman second identification witness attendant parking lot gunman ultimately escaped testified side front view man passed finally customer leaving hasson market robbers entered testified good look exited moments later witnesses identified imbler gunman customer also identified second man leonard lingo rigorous failed shake witnesses imbler defense alibi claimed spent night hasson killing several persons met lingo first time morning attempted robbery pomona testimony corroborated mayes accomplice pomona robbery also claimed accompanied imbler earlier rounds bars jury found imbler guilty fixed punishment death appeal california affirmed unanimously numerous contentions error people imbler cal shortly thereafter deputy district attorney richard pachtman prosecutor imbler trial respondent wrote governor california describing evidence turned trial investigator state correctional authority substance evidence consisted newly discovered corroborating witnesses imbler alibi well new revelations prime witness costello background indicated less trustworthy represented originally pachtman testimony pachtman noted leads information available imbler counsel prior trial apparently developed costello testified convincingly withstood intense none new evidence conclusive imbler innocence explained wrote belief prosecuting attorney duty fair see true facts whether helpful case presented imbler filed state habeas corpus petition shortly pachtman letter california appointed one retired justices referee hold hearing costello main attraction recanted trial identification imbler also established painted picture background flattering true imbler corroborating witnesses uncovered prosecutor pachtman investigations also testified brief california habeas petition imbler counsel described pachtman detective work highest tradition law enforcement justice premier example devotion duty also charged prosecution knowingly used false testimony suppressed material evidence imbler trial opinion justice traynor california unanimously rejected contentions denied writ imbler cal california noted hearing record fully supported referee finding costello recantation identification lacked credibility compared original identification new corroborating witnesses appeared imbler behalf unsure stories otherwise impeached year denial state habeas petition imbler succeeded death sentence overturned grounds unrelated case imbler cal rather resentence state stipulated life imprisonment matter lay several years late early imbler filed habeas corpus petition federal district based contentions previously urged upon rejected california district held hearing instead decided petition upon record including pachtman letter governor transcript referee hearing ordered california reading record quite differently seven justices state district found eight instances state misconduct imbler trial cumulative effect required issuance writ imbler craven supp cd cal six occurred costello testimony amounted view culpable use prosecution misleading false testimony two instances suppressions evidence favorable imbler police fingerprint expert testified trial police investigated hasson murder district ordered writ habeas corpus issue unless california retried imbler within days denied petition rehearing state appealed appeals ninth circuit claiming district failed give appropriate deference factual determinations california required appeals affirmed finding district merely reached different conclusions state applying federal constitutional standards facts imbler california certiorari denied california chose retry imbler released point decade litigation imbler free stage set present suit april imbler filed civil rights action related statutes respondent pachtman police fingerprint expert various officers los angeles police force alleged conspiracy among unlawfully charge convict caused loss liberty grievous injury demanded million actual exemplary damages defendant plus attorney fees imbler attempted incorporate complaint district decision granting writ habeas corpus part tracked opinion setting overt acts furtherance alleged conspiracy gravamen complaint pachtman intent occasions negligence allowed costello give false testimony found district fingerprint expert suppression evidence chargeable federal law pachtman addition imbler claimed pachtman prosecuted knowledge lie detector test cleared imbler pachtman used trial police artist sketch hasson killer made shortly crime allegedly altered resemble imbler closely investigation focused upon pachtman moved fed rule civ proc complaint dismissed district noting public prosecutors repeatedly held immune civil liability acts done part traditional official functions found pachtman alleged acts fell category granted motion following entry final judgment pachtman fed rule civ proc imbler appealed appeals ninth circuit one judge dissenting affirmed district opinion finding pachtman alleged acts committed prosecutorial activities characterized integral part judicial process quoting marlowe coakley granted certiorari consider important recurring issue prosecutorial liability civil rights act ii title provides person acts color state law deprive another constitutional right shall answerable person suit damages statute thus creates species tort liability face admits immunities argued applied stringently reads view prevailed first considered implications statute literal sweep tenney brandhove claimed members state legislative committee called plaintiff appear proper legislative purpose intimidate silence certain matters public concern thereby deprived constitutional rights legislators england country enjoyed absolute immunity official actions tenney squarely presented issue whether reconstruction congress intended restrict availability suits immunities historically reasons public policy accorded various categories officials concluded immunities well grounded history reason abrogated covert inclusion general language regardless unworthy purpose animating actions legislators held enjoy statute usual immunity acting field legislators traditionally power act decision tenney established read harmony general principles tort immunities defenses rather derogation today occasion consider liability several types government officials addition legislators absolute immunity judges acts committed within judicial jurisdiction see bradley fisher wall found preserved pierson ray case local police officers sued deprivation liberty resulting unlawful arrest held enjoy good faith probable cause defense defense false arrest actions common law found qualified immunities appropriate two recent cases scheuer rhodes concluded governor executive officials state qualified immunity varied scope discretion responsibilities office circumstances reasonably appeared time action last term wood strickland held school officials context imposing disciplinary penalties liable long reasonably known action violated students clearly established constitutional rights provided act malicious intention cause constitutional injury cf donaldson scheuer wood two earlier cases considerations underlying nature immunity respective officials suits common law led essentially immunity see iii case marks first opportunity address liability state prosecuting officer courts appeals however confronted issue many times varying circumstances although precise contours holdings unclear times bottom virtually unanimous prosecutor enjoys absolute immunity suits damages acts within scope prosecutorial duties courts sometimes described prosecutor immunity form immunity referred derivative immunity judges recognized pierson ray supra petitioner focuses upon characterization contends illustrates fundamental illogic according absolute immunity prosecutor argues prosecutor member executive branch claim immunity reserved judiciary qualified immunity akin accorded executive officials previous cases petitioner takes overly simplistic approach issue prosecutorial liability noted earlier decisions immunities products judicial fiat officials different branches government differently amenable suit rather predicated upon considered inquiry immunity historically accorded relevant official common law interests behind liability state prosecutor must determined manner function prosecutor often invites tort action decision initiate prosecution may lead suit malicious prosecution state case misfires first american case address question prosecutor amenability action griffith slinkard ind complaint charged local prosecutor without probable cause added plaintiff name grand jury true bill grand jurors refused indict result plaintiff arrested forced appear repeatedly charge finally nolle prossed despite allegations malice indiana dismissed action ground prosecutor absolutely immune griffith view prosecutorial immunity became clear majority rule issue question eventually came writ certiorari appeals second circuit yaselli goff claim defendant special assistant attorney general maliciously without probable cause procured plaintiff grand jury indictment willful introduction false misleading evidence plaintiff sought damages subjected rigors trial ultimately directed verdict government district dismissed complaint appeals affirmed reviewing development doctrine prosecutorial immunity stated opinion law requires us hold special assistant attorney general performance duties imposed upon law immune civil action malicious prosecution based indictment prosecution although results verdict guilty rendered jury immunity absolute grounded principles public policy immunity prosecutor based upon considerations underlie immunities judges grand jurors acting within scope duties include concern harassment unfounded litigation cause deflection prosecutor energies public duties possibility shade decisions instead exercising independence judgment required public trust one expressed considerations follows office public prosecutor one must administered courage independence yet prosecutor made subject suit accuses fails convict allow open way unlimited harassment embarrassment conscientious officials profit thereby involved every case possible consequences failure obtain conviction always question possible civil action case prosecutor saw fit move dismissal case apprehension consequences tend toward great uneasiness toward weakening fearless impartial policy characterize administration office work prosecutor thus impeded moved away desired objective stricter fairer law enforcement pearson reed cal app rule immunity thus well settled must determine whether considerations public policy underlie rule likewise countenance absolute immunity think prosecutor qualified immunity threat suits undermine performance duties less threat suits malicious prosecution prosecutor duty bound exercise best judgment deciding suits bring conducting public trust prosecutor office suffer constrained making every decision consequences terms potential liability suit damages suits expected frequency defendant often transform resentment prosecuted ascription improper malicious actions state advocate cf bradley fisher pierson ray prosecutor made answer time person charged wrongdoing energy attention diverted pressing duty enforcing criminal law moreover suits survived pleadings pose substantial danger liability even honest prosecutor prosecutor possible knowledge witness falsehoods materiality evidence revealed defense propriety closing argument ultimately every case likelihood prosecutorial misconduct infected trial deny due process typical issues judges struggle actions relief sometimes differing conclusions presentation issues action often require virtual retrial criminal offense new forum resolution technical issues lay jury fair say think honest prosecutor face greater difficulty meeting standards qualified immunity executive administrative officials frequently acting serious constraints time even information prosecutor inevitably makes many decisions engender colorable claims constitutional deprivation defending decisions often years made impose unique intolerable burdens upon prosecutor responsible annually hundreds indictments trials cf bradley fisher supra affording qualified immunity prosecutor also adverse effect upon functioning criminal justice system attaining system goal accurately determining guilt innocence requires prosecution defense wide discretion conduct trial presentation evidence veracity witnesses criminal cases frequently subject doubt testify illustrated history case prosecutors hampered exercising judgment use witnesses concern resulting personal liability triers fact criminal cases often denied relevant evidence ultimate fairness operation system weakened subjecting prosecutors liability various procedures available determine whether accused received fair trial procedures include remedial powers trial judge appellate review state federal collateral remedies attention reviewing judge tribunal focused primarily whether fair trial law focus blurred even subconscious knowledge decision favor accused might result prosecutor called upon respond damages error mistaken judgment conclude considerations outlined dictate absolute immunity prosecutor enjoys common law sure immunity leave genuinely wronged defendant without civil redress prosecutor whose malicious dishonest action deprives liberty alternative qualifying prosecutor immunity disserve broader public interest prevent vigorous fearless performance prosecutor duty essential proper functioning criminal justice system moreover often prejudice defendants criminal cases skewing judicial decisions made sole purpose insuring justice issue thus framed find agreement judge learned hand wrote prosecutor immunity actions malicious prosecution often case answer must found balance evils inevitable either alternative instance thought end better leave unredressed wrongs done dishonest officers subject try duty constant dread retaliation gregoire biddle cert denied emphasize immunity prosecutors liability suits leave public powerless deter misconduct punish occurs never suggested policy considerations compel civil immunity certain governmental officials also place beyond reach criminal law even judges cloaked absolute civil immunity centuries punished criminally willful deprivations constitutional rights strength criminal analog littleton cf gravel prosecutor fare better willful acts moreover prosecutor stands perhaps unique among officials whose acts deprive persons constitutional rights amenability professional discipline association peers checks undermine argument imposition civil liability way insure prosecutors mindful constitutional rights persons accused crime remains delineate boundaries holding noted supra appeals emphasized respondent challenged activities integral part judicial process purpose appeals focus upon functional nature activities rather respondent status distinguish leave standing cases circuit others hold prosecutor engaged certain investigative activities enjoys absolute immunity associated judicial process defense comparable policeman see pierson ray agree appeals respondent activities intimately associated judicial phase criminal process thus functions reasons absolute immunity apply full force occasion consider whether like similar reasons require immunity aspects prosecutor responsibility cast role administrator investigative officer rather advocate hold initiating prosecution presenting state case prosecutor immune civil suit damages judgment appeals ninth circuit accordingly affirmed footnotes coat identified hasson worn husband assailant yielded gun determined ballistics evidence murder weapon fourth man saw hasson killer leaving scene identified imbler pretrial lineup police unable find time trial imbler also received prison term assault charge see supra brief respondent app record indicate specific action taken response pachtman letter note letter dated august imbler execution scheduled september subsequently stayed letter became part permanent record case available courts subsequent litigation brief respondent see generally napue illinois brady maryland district found costello given certain ambiguous misleading testimony lied flatly criminal record education current income misleading testimony found either pachtman police officer present courtroom knew misleading false testimony district concluded pachtman cause suspect falsity although apparently actual knowledge thereof see california earlier addressed rejected allegations based many parts costello testimony found either absence falsehood absence prosecutorial knowledge instance see imbler cal see california earlier rejected similar allegations see imbler supra title originally passed civil rights act stat reads full every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress see pierson ray douglas dissenting tenney brandhove douglas dissenting described immunity judges follows doctrines solidly established common law immunity judges liability damages acts committed within judicial jurisdiction recognized adopted doctrine bradley fisher wall immunity applies even judge accused acting maliciously corruptly protection benefit malicious corrupt judge benefit public whose interest judges liberty exercise functions independence without fear consequences citation omitted procedural difference absolute qualified immunities important absolute immunity defeats suit outset long official actions within scope immunity fate official qualified immunity depends upon circumstances motivations actions established evidence trial see scheuer rhodes wood strickland elements immunity described scheuer follows existence reasonable grounds belief formed time light circumstances coupled good faith belief affords basis qualified immunity executive officers acts performed course official conduct tenney brandhove course looked immunity accorded legislators federal state constitutions well developed common law see generally doe mcmillan fanale sheehy bauers heisel cert denied carmack gibson tyler witkowski barnes dorsey kostal stoner cert denied cf guerro mulhearn weathers ebert compare hurlburt graham hilliard williams cert denied see part iv infra tyler witkowski supra kostal stoner supra hampton city chicago cert denied see infra indiana griffith cited earlier massachusetts decision apparently authority holding case parker huntington mass involved elements malicious prosecution cause action rather immunity prosecutor see also note rev smith parman semmes collins miss kittler kelsch watts gerking rehearing contra leong carden haw immunity judge acts within jurisdiction roots extending earliest days common law see floyd barker coke eng chancellor kent traced history yates lansing johns accepted rule judicial immunity bradley fisher wall see supra immunity grand jurors almost equally venerable tenet see floyd barker supra also adopted country see turpen booth cal hunter mathis ind courts extended immunity prosecutor sometimes remarked fact three officials judge grand juror prosecutor exercise discretionary judgment basis evidence presented smith parman supra watts gerking supra functional comparability judgments judge resulted grand jurors prosecutors referred officers immunities termed well see turpen booth supra watts gerking supra see gregoire biddle cert denied cooper app anderson rohrer supp sd pearson reed cal app anderson manley see generally restatement torts comment harper james law torts pp illustrated history disagreement culpability prosecutor conduct case express opinion courts correct see nn supra law defamation concern airing evidence resulted absolute privilege courtroom statement relevant subject matter proceeding case lawyers privilege extends briefs pleadings well see generally cooley law torts ed harper james supra leading case hoar wood mass chief justice shaw expressed policy decision follows subject restriction relevancy whole public interest best calculated subserve purposes justice allow counsel full freedom speech conducting causes advocating sustaining rights constituents freedom discussion impaired numerous refined distinctions prosecutor often must decide especially cases wide public interest whether proceed trial sharp conflict evidence appropriate course action case may well permit jury resolve conflict yet prosecutor understandably reluctant go forward close case acquittal likely trigger suit damages cf american bar association project standards criminal justice prosecution defense function approved draft possibility personal liability also dampen prosecutor exercise duty bring attention proper officials significant evidence suggestive innocence mitigation trial duty enforced requirements due process conviction prosecutor also bound ethics office inform appropriate authority information casts doubt upon correctness conviction cf aba code professional responsibility ec aba standards supra indeed record case suggests respondent recognition duty led hearing turn resulted ultimately district granting writ habeas corpus addressing consequences subjecting judges suits damages commented imposing burden judges contribute principled fearless intimidation pierson ray petitioner contends suit allowed even others district issuance writ habeas corpus shows suit substance decline carve exception prosecutorial immunity petitioner success habeas question alleged misconduct several state agents necessarily establish merit civil rights action respondent alleged wrongdoing issue certainly nothing determined habeas bind respondent party moreover using habeas proceeding subsequent civil rights action create risk injecting extraneous concerns proceeding noted text consideration habeas petition well colored awareness potential prosecutorial liability whoever color law statute ordinance regulation custom willfully subjects inhabitant state territory district deprivation rights privileges immunities secured protected constitution laws different punishments pains penalties account inhabitant alien reason color race prescribed punishment citizens shall fined imprisoned one year death results shall subject imprisonment term years life california also appears provide criminal punishment prosecutor commits acts ascribed respondent petitioner cal penal code cf branch cal see aba code professional responsibility ec see generally aba standards supra commentary pp guerro mulhearn hampton city chicago robichaud ronan cf madison purdy lewis brautigam cf cambist films duggan complaint district argument us petitioner characterizes respondent actions investigative specifically points request respondent police courtroom recess hold questioning costello pending charge costello completed testimony petitioner asserts request investigative activity direction police officers engaged investigation crime seen proper light however respondent request officers effort control presentation witness testimony task fairly within function advocate recognize duties prosecutor role advocate state involve actions preliminary initiation prosecution actions apart courtroom prosecuting attorney required constantly course duty make decisions wide variety sensitive issues include questions whether present case grand jury whether file information whether prosecute whether dismiss indictment particular defendants witnesses call evidence present preparation initiation criminal process trial may require obtaining reviewing evaluating evidence point respect decisions prosecutor doubt functions administrator rather officer drawing proper line functions may present difficult questions case require us anticipate justice white concurring judgment distinguish willful use prosecutor perjured testimony willful suppression prosecutor exculpatory information former case justice white agrees absolute immunity appropriate thinks however qualified immunity appropriate information relevant defense unconstitutionally withheld post accept distinction urged justice white several reasons matter principle perceive less infringement defendant rights knowing use perjured testimony deliberate withholding exculpatory information conduct either case reprehensible warranting criminal prosecution well disbarment see supra nn moreover distinction susceptible practical application claim using perjured testimony simply may reframed asserted claim suppression evidence upon knowledge perjury rested two types claims thus viewed clear cases discussing constitutional prohibitions practices mooney holohan alcorta texas brady maryland miller pate giglio also illustrated history case least one charges prosecutorial misconduct discussed federal district terms suppression evidence discussed california terms use perjured testimony compare imbler craven imbler cal denying absolute immunity suppression claims thus eviscerate many situations absolute immunity claims using perjured testimony think justice white suggestion post absolute immunity accorded prosecutor makes full disclosure facts casting doubt upon state testimony place upon prosecutor duty exceeding disclosure requirements brady progeny see moore illinois cf donnelly dechristoforo also weaken adversary system time interfered seriously legitimate exercise prosecutorial discretion justice white justice brennan justice marshall join concurring judgment concur judgment much reasoning agree gravamen complaint case prosecutor knowingly used perjured testimony prosecutor absolutely immune suit money damages presentation testimony later determined false presentation testimony alleged unconstitutional solely prosecutor believe believed true write however believe opinion may read extending prosecutor immunity broader entitled common law broader necessary decide case broader necessary protect judicial process seriously disagree implication absolute immunity prosecutors extends suits based claims unconstitutional suppression evidence believe rule threaten injure judicial process interfere congress purpose enacting without support statutory language history title provides every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress justifying absolute immunity certain officials common law courts invariably rested decisions proposition immunity necessary protect decisionmaking process official engaged thus legislative immunity justified ground immunity essential protect freedom speech action legislature dampening effects threatened lawsuits tenney brandhove supra similarly absolute immunity judges justified ground matter high standard proof set burden defending damage suits brought disappointed litigants contribute principled fearless decisionmaking intimidation pierson ray supra bradley fisher wall stated general principle highest importance proper administration justice judicial officer exercising authority vested shall free act upon convictions without apprehension personal consequences liability answer every one might feel aggrieved action judge inconsistent possession freedom destroy independence without judiciary either respectable useful majority articulates adverse consequences may result permitting suits maintained public officials suits may expose official unjust damage award ante suits expensive defend even official prevails take official time away job ante liability prosecutor unconstitutional behavior might induce federal habeas corpus proceeding deny valid constitutional claim order protect prosecutor ante however adverse consequences present respect suits policemen school teachers executives never thought sufficient immunize official absolutely matter outrageous conduct indeed reasons present respect suits state officials must necessarily rejected congress basis absolute immunity enactment clear indication least officials accountable damages official acts thus unless threat suit also thought injure governmental decisionmaking process unfortunate consequences flowing damage suits state officials sufficient extend qualified immunity official question accordingly question whether prosecutor enjoys absolute immunity damage suits qualified immunity depends upon whether common law reason support proposition extending absolute immunity necessary protect judicial process ii public prosecutor absolute immunity suit common law firmly entrenched judge considerable support general rule prosecutor absolutely immune suit malicious prosecution harper james law torts hereafter harper james cases cited yaselli goff supra gregoire biddle kauffman moss bauers heisel tyler witkowski hampton city chicago barnes dorsey duba mcintyre robichaud ronan see leong yau carden haw rule like rule extending absolute immunity judges rests proposition absolute immunity necessary protect judicial process absent immunity human prosecutors might refrain presenting grand jury prosecuting matter judgment called action jury might possibly determine otherwise harper james pp quoting yaselli goff sdny indeed deciding whether prosecute prosecutor performs function harper james yaselli goff judicial immunity always extended grand jurors respect actions returning indictment public prosecutor deciding whether particular prosecution shall instituted performs much function grand jury quoting smith parman analogy judicial immunity strong one moreover risk injury judicial process rule permitting malicious prosecution suits prosecutors real one sue prosecutor erroneous decision prosecute suits malicious prosecution permitted prosecutor incentive always bring charges moreover fear harassed vexatious suit acting according consciences always greater powerful men involved hawkins pleas crown ed accordingly agree majority respect suits based claims prosecutor decision prosecute malicious without probable cause least independent allegation prosecutor withheld exculpatory information grand jury see part iii infra judicial process better served absolute immunity rule public prosecutors also absolutely immune common law suits defamatory remarks made relevant judicial proceeding harper james yaselli goff immunity also based policy protecting judicial process veeder absolute immunity defamation judicial proceedings rev immunity special public prosecutors extended lawyers accused making false defamatory statements eliciting false defamatory testimony witnesses applied suits witnesses delivering false defamatory testimony harper james pp cases cited king skinner lofft eng per lord mansfield yaselli goff reasons rule also substantial precisely function judicial proceeding determine truth lies ability courts carefully developed procedures separate truth falsity importance accurately resolving factual disputes criminal civil cases involved judicial proceedings given every encouragement make full disclosure pertinent information within knowledge harper james witness means must permitted testify without fear sued testimony disbelieved lawyer means must permitted call witnesses without fear sued witness disbelieved alleged lawyer knew known witness testimony false course witnesses encouraged testify falsely lawyers encouraged call witnesses testify falsely however risk defend civil damage suit added deterrent conduct already provided criminal laws perjury subornation perjury risk becomes great particularly difficult impossible attorneys absolutely certain objective truth falsity testimony present prosecutor faced decision whether call witness believes whose credibility knows doubt whose testimony may disbelieved jury given every incentive submit witness testimony crucible judicial process fact finder may consider together evidence case determine truth lies absolute privilege conceded obvious grounds public policy insure freedom speech essential freedom speech exist essential ends justice persons participating judicial proceedings take typical class illustration enjoy freedom speech discharge public duties pursuing rights without fear consequences veeder supra since gravamen complaint case prosecutor knew known certain testimony witness called untrue since reasons set forth allegations complaint fail state cause action theory concur judgment case however insofar majority opinion implies absolute immunity suits constitutional violations based prosecutor decision initiate proceedings actions bringing information argument disagree particularly disagree implication absolute immunity extends suits charging unconstitutional suppression evidence brady maryland iii absolute immunity common law prosecutors absolute immunity suits malicious prosecution defamation simply causes action common law brought prosecutors conduct committed official capacity example reported case suit common law prosecutor suppression nondisclosure exculpatory evidence thus even accepted proposition scheuer rhodes congress incorporated immunities existing common law follow prosecutors absolutely immune suit unconstitutional acts committed course jobs secondly means true blanket absolute immunity necessary even helpful protecting judicial process hardly need stating ordinarily liability damages unconstitutional otherwise illegal conduct desirable effect deterring conduct indeed precisely proposition upon enacted absent special circumstances discussed part ii supra respect actions attacking decision prosecute bringing evidence argument one expect judicial process protected indeed integrity enhanced denial immunity prosecutors engage unconstitutional conduct absolute immunity extended prosecutors defamation cases designed encourage bring information resolve criminal case single justification lest withhold valuable questionable evidence refrain making valuable questionable arguments prosecutors protected liability submitting information later determined false knowledge stand immunity rule head however apply suit based claim prosecutor unconstitutionally withheld information immunity suit based upon claim prosecutor suppressed withheld evidence discourage precisely disclosure evidence sought encouraged rule granting prosecutors immunity defamation suits denial immunity unconstitutional withholding evidence encourage disclosure prosecutor seeking protect liability failure disclose evidence may induced disclose required hardly injure judicial process indeed help accordingly lower courts held unconstitutional suppression exculpatory evidence beyond scope duties constituting integral part judicial process refused extend absolute immunity suits based claims hilliard williams cert denied haaf grams supp peterson stanczak nd contra barnes dorsey equally important unlike constitutional violations committed courtroom improper summations introduction hearsay evidence violation confrontation clause knowing presentation false testimony truly integral part judicial process ante judicial process way prevent correct constitutional violation suppressing evidence judicial process definition ignorant violation occurs reasonable suspect violations never surface important deter violations permitting damage actions maintained instances violations surface stakes high hilliard williams supra woman convicted murder upon entirely circumstantial evidence incriminating item evidence fact jacket worn defendant time arrest curtains appeared bloodstains defendant denied stains bloodstains convicted subsequently spent year jail fortunately case defendant later found fbi report prosecutor knowledge time trial existence instructed state investigator mention testimony concluded testing stains bloodstains retrial defendant acquitted sued prosecutor state investigator claiming fbi report unconstitutionally withheld brady maryland obtained damage award trial prosecutor petition certiorari pending hilliard williams cert pending state investigator petition claimed followed prosecutor orders denied clark hilliard apparent injury defendant caused unconstitutional suppression exculpatory evidence substantial particularly evidence never uncovered virtually impossible identify injury judicial process resulting rule permitting suits unconstitutional conduct easy identify injury process resulting rule permit suits reason rule extending absolute immunity prosecutors disappears truly monstrous deny recovery gregoire biddle iv complaint case fundamentally based claim prosecutor knew known witness testified falsely certain respects contain allegations exculpatory evidence evidence relating witness credibility suppressed insofar complaint based allegations suppression failure disclose prosecutor reasons set forth absolutely immune however majority notes suppression fingerprint evidence alleged suppression information relating certain pretrial lineups alleged known fact prosecutor simply claimed suppression legally chargeable may matter federal habeas corpus law untrue civil damage action result test claimed suppressed allegedly known respondent inadmissible imbler trial thus constitutionally required disclosed alteration police artist composite sketch imbler designated defendant alleged suppressed fact appears suppressed opinion california direct review imbler conviction picture modified later following suggestions costello witnesses presumably trial record items allegedly suppressed relate background information one three eyewitnesses testify state large part concededly known defense thus may accurately described suppressed single alleged fact concededly known defense might helpful defense state witness written bad checks small amounts criminal charge based one check outstanding however witness extensive criminal record known fully used defense thus even taken true failure disclose check charges patently insufficient support claim unconstitutional suppression evidence past due regard fact obligation government disclose exculpatory evidence exception normal operation adversary system justice imposed state prosecutors constitutional obligation turn evidence evidence far greater significance involved see moore illinois thus constitutional violation adequately alleged prosecutor knew mind testimony presented false suit based violation without prosecutor absolutely immune reason concur judgment reached majority case emphasized immunity lengthy history common law written constitution speech debate clause many state constitutions well concluded ew doctrines solidly established common law immunity judges liability damages acts committed within judicial jurisdiction recognized adopted doctrine bradley fisher wall even risk decisions habeas corpus proceedings skewed applicable case policemen supplies sufficient reason extend absolute immunity prosecutors sufficient reason extend immunity policemen indeed fair say far habeas corpus petitions turn constitutionality action taken policemen turn constitutionality action taken prosecutors simply rely ability federal judges correctly apply law facts knowledge overturning conviction constitutional grounds hardly dooms official question payment damage award light qualified immunity possesses inapplicability res judicata doctrine ante agree majority sufficient merely set standard proof malicious prosecution case high done might possible eliminate danger unjust damage award prosecutor however risk defend suit even certain ultimate vindication remain substantial deterrent fearless prosecution reasons set forth part iii infra absolute immunity apply independent claims prosecutor withheld facts tending demonstrate falsity witness testimony alleged facts sufficiently important justify finding unconstitutional conduct part prosecutor immunity public officials false arrest unlike immunity public officials malicious prosecution absolute harper james prosecutors sued tort held absolutely immune schneider shepherd similar result obtained lower courts suits prosecutors initiating unconstitutional arrests robichaud ronan hampton chicago wilhelm turner dictum balistrieri warren supp wd see also ames vavreck supp reasons making prosecutor absolutely immune suits defamation apply equal force suits based solely upon prosecutor conduct courtroom designed either bring facts arguments attention thus prosecutor immune suit based claim summation unconstitutional deliberately elicited hearsay evidence violation confrontation clause may circumstances ongoing investigations even life informant might jeopardized public disclosure information thought possibly exculpatory however situations may adequately dealt camera disclosure trial judge considerations militate disclosure merely affect manner disclosure majority points knowing use perjured testimony reprehensible deliberate suppression exculpatory evidence beside point reason permitting suits prosecutors suppressing evidence suppression especially reprehensible effect process permitting suits beneficial one information disclosed whereas one effects permitting suits knowing use perjured testimony detrimental process prosecutors may withhold questionable valuable testimony majority argues claim using perjured testimony simply may reframed asserted claim suppression treatment allegations case conclusively refutes argument relatively easy allege government witness testified falsely prosecutor believe witness prosecutor subjective belief sufficient basis liability case almost certainly go trial suits permitted case go trial another matter entirely allege specific objective facts known prosecutor sufficient importance justify conclusion violated constitutional duty disclose coincidence petitioner failed make allegations case point quite apart relative difficulty pleading violation brady maryland rule permitting suits based withholding specific facts unlike suits based prosecutor disbelief witness testimony detrimental effect process risk sued suppression impel prosecutor err side overdisclosure risk sued disbelieving witness impel prosecutor err side withholding questionable evidence majority appear respond point suggestion distinction suits based suppression facts helpful defense suits based kinds constitutional violations understood district judges apply rule mystifying distinction simple one finally majority rule suggested concurring opinion place upon prosecutor duty exceeding disclosure requirements brady progeny rule suggested opinion thing constitutional obligation prosecutor remains utterly unchanged simply grant absolute immunity suits committing violations constitutional disclosure requirements committed violations bad faith