Case Explained: Miller v. Mitchell

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-17 Docket: 5:25-CV-00535-SWS) The tenth-circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Marquise Miller’s pro se civil rights complaint against Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell with prejudice. The appellate court upheld the dismissal based on the doctrine of absolute judicial immunity, agreeing that Judge Mitchell’s order compelling Miller to attend a discovery conference in a separate lawsuit constituted a judicial act performed within her jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Consequently, Miller’s claims alleging she lacked legal authority were barred. The court also reviewed the district court’s denial of Miller’s motions to alter or amend judgment and for relief from judgment under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 59(e) and 60(b) for abuse of discretion, noting that Miller waived any argument regarding those denials by failing to explain why the district court’s reasoning was erroneous. The practical consequence is that the dismissal stands, barring Miller from pursuing further litigation against Judge Mitchell for these specific acts. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.