“Extending the doctrine of judicial immunity to include civil liability for alleged criminal conduct, as in this case, risks undermining the public’s trust in the judiciary, which I cannot countenance.”

—First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge William Crain, in his dissent in Wednesday’s decision that 4th JDC judges were entitled to “absolute judicial immunity” even though a lawsuit said all five judges were complicit in protecting a court clerk who was said to have destroyed court records.

“Judicial immunity is of the highest order of importance in maintaining an independent judiciary, free of threats or intimidation. But it is a judge-created doctrine policed by judges.”

—More of Judge Crain’s dissent.