Peter Strojnik, Sr. v. State Bar of Arizona

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS NOV 17 2020 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT PETER STROJNIK, Sr., No. 20-15671 Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 2:19-cv-02704-DJH v. MEMORANDUM* STATE BAR OF ARIZONA, an Arizona nonprofit corporation; et al., Defendants-Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona Diane J. Humetewa, District Judge, Presiding Submitted November 9, 2020** Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, TASHIMA and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges. Peter Strojnik, Sr. appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his action alleging civil rights violations as well as claims under state law. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Sato v. Orange Cty. Dep’t of Educ., 861 F.3d 923, 928 (9th Cir. 2017) (dismissal under * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). Eleventh Amendment immunity); Miller v. Davis, 521 F.3d 1142, 1145 (9th Cir. 2008) (dismissal under quasi-judicial immunity). We affirm. The district court properly dismissed Strojnik’s claims against the State Bar of Arizona and individual defendants Miller and Vessella because those claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment and quasi-judicial immunity, respectively. Hirsh v. Justices of Supreme Court of Cal., 67 F.3d 708, 715 (9th Cir. 1995) (a state bar association is entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity and state bar prosecutors are entitled to quasi-judicial immunity); see also Ashelman v. Pope, 793 F.2d 1072, 1075 (9th Cir. 1986) (en banc) (“[T]hose performing judge-like functions are absolutely immune from damage liability for acts performed in their official capacities.”). We reject as meritless Strojnik’s contention that defendants were acting in their private capacities. We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009). AFFIRMED. 2 20-15671