Edward E. Allen, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Douglas W. Fong, District Attorney's Office, Defendant-appellee, 990 F.2d 1255 (9th Cir. 1993)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Edward Allen, a pro se prisoner, appeals from the district court's order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action for failure to state a claim. We affirm the district court.¹ 

Appellant brought an action for damages and injunctive relief against a deputy district attorney for the State of Oregon, alleging violations of his constitutional right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The district court dismissed the action, finding the defendant to be absolutely immune from liability for damages, and abstaining from interfering in any ongoing state criminal proceedings pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971).

Appellant's complaint alleges that certain remarks made by the deputy district attorney on the record in connection with his criminal prosecution of appellant resulted in the deprivation of appellant's right to a fair trial. Appellant seeks damages of $100,000. Appellant's conclusory allegations regarding these remarks and their effects fail to state a claim for damages against a prosecutor. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409 (1976). Remarks made on the record, especially objections and arguments about bail pending trial, made in the context of an ongoing criminal prosecution fall well within the protected activity of prosecutorial function. Consequently, the district court's finding of absolute immunity was proper.

The district court's refusal, under Younger, to interfere with ongoing state criminal proceedings was proper. Appellant has adequate opportunity and means to challenge the fairness of his criminal trial in the state appellate system, and through subsequent state and federal habeas corpus proceedings if necessary.

AFFIRMED.