Appealed From: U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
Subjects: Civil Rights; Immunity; Section 1983; Warrants

At Issue: Whether a prosecutor who allegedly made false statements to obtain an arrest warrant is entitled to absolute immunity from a civil rights claim filed by the person who was arrested.

Decision: Writing for a unanimous court, Justice John Paul Stevens stated that prosecutors who obtain warrants dishonestly may be sued by the person who was arrested.

• Read the full text of the Kalina v. Fletcher decision at the FindLaw Internet Legal Resources Web site.

• Read the lower court opinion on the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit Web site.

Sources: The Washington Post, Supreme Court, The United States Law Week (a Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. publication)