Weston v. Ponder

Conley Byrd, Justice.

Appellant Joseph H. Weston on this appeal contends that the trial court erred in holding that appellees Harry L. Ponder and Andrew G. Ponder were privileged as an officer of the court and as a judge of the court, respectively, under the development of the “WELL ESTABLISHED DOCTRINE OF IMMUNITY” from common law procedures. During oral argument Mr. Weston readily acknowledged that defamatory statements by lawyers in judicial proceedings are privileged under some circumstances, Mauney v. Millar, 142 Ark. 500, 219 S.W. 1032 (1920), and that judges are immune from actions for…