Hallmark Care Services, Inc., et al. v. Superior Court of Washington, Spokane County, et al.

Spokane County initiated and prosecuted, through members of its local superior court and without counsel, 124 actions against the Petitioners by mailing un­filed, ex parte letter orders; by entering ex parte orders without notice or hearing; and, by holding scores of expedited “drumhead” hearings through which the government summarily transferred clients to competing businesses; by entering money judgments against the Petitioners absent any due process. Petitioners promptly appealed, and while the state­court appeal was pending they filed due process claims in the local federal district court which ultimately dismissed the action based on the Rooker­Feldman doctrine and judicial immunity.

1. Does the Rooker­Feldman doctrine bar federal constitutional claims arising from a government action in the state trial court in before a final ruling in the matter was entered in the state courts?

2. Does the doctrine of judicial immunity extend beyond personally protecting the individual judges to shielding the government from a citizen's claims seeking redress for the damages arising from the unconstitutional actions of the state court?