No. 25-1356October Term 2025Before Arguments
Walter A. Bernard, Petitioner v. Philip A. Ignelzi, Individually and as Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Question presented
Whether absolute judicial immunity bars a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against a state trial judge who personally directs and supervises police officers in conducting a warrantless arrest of a litigant inside the litigant’s home.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
Walter Bernard is asking the Supreme Court to review whether a Pennsylvania state judge can be sued under a federal civil-rights law after allegedly personally directing police during a warrantless arrest inside Bernard's home. The Third Circuit said the judge's broad immunity from suit still barred the case.
Argument
The case is still at the stage where the justices are deciding whether to hear it, and no oral argument has been scheduled. Bernard argues Supreme Court precedent and several other federal appeals courts do not give immunity to judges who personally direct or supervise arrests.
Impact
The case could shape when judges are protected from damages lawsuits and when they can be treated like law enforcement officials. For example, it matters to people who say a judge stepped beyond the bench and helped run an arrest at their home.
What is the main issue in Bernard v. Ignelzi?
The case asks whether a state judge can avoid a federal civil-rights lawsuit after allegedly personally directing a warrantless arrest inside a person's home.
Who could be affected by Bernard v. Ignelzi?
Litigants, state judges, and police officers could all be affected. The answer could shape when judges are treated as neutral officials and when they face civil liability.
What happens next in Bernard v. Ignelzi?
The justices must decide whether to hear the case. No oral argument is scheduled yet, and there is no set timeline for the Court's next move.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 17, 2026
- Method
- Methodology