Michigan Judge Can’t Be Sued for Alleged Conspiracy on Bench

A Michigan state court judge who allegedly conspired against a litigant is judicially immune from that litigant’s civil rights suit, the Sixth Circuit affirmed May 28.

Grandville, Mich.-based HLV LLC went to court to collect $600,000 in debt from another company. Judge Paul E. Hamre presided over the case.

Hamre allegedly made assurances to the debtor company that it wouldn’t have to cough up that much in assets. But attorneys for HLV were still on the telephone line and recorded or transcribed the conversation, and moved to disqualify Hamre, according to the appeals court. The judge recused himself from the ...