Ralph Liles, Herman Bachanan, David Carlson, Ken Stastny, James Glenn, Larry Nolte and Ray Robinson v. Ronald E. Reagan

HEANEY, Circuit Judge.

This case raises the issue whether a state court judge has absolute immunity from a civil damages action brought by defendants who were found in contempt and jailed.

BACKGROUND

This appeal arises out of a long and bitter dispute between the Faith Baptist Church of Louisville, Nebraska, and officials of the State of Nebraska over operation by the church of a school in violation of the laws of Nebraska. State officials ultimately obtained an order from a Nebraska district court closing the school. The order became final after appeal in 1981. The school, however, continued to…