In Bradley v. Fisher (1871) 80 U.S. (13 Wall.) 335, the court reconsidered the statement in Randall and concluded that "the qualifying words used were not necessary to a correct statement of the law," and held that "judges of courts of superior or general jurisdiction are not liable to civil actions for their judicial acts, even when such acts are in excess of their jurisdiction, and are alleged to have been done maliciously or corruptly." ( Id. at p. 351.) The court recognized that it was "a general principle of the highest importance to the proper administration of justice that a judicial officer, in exercising the authority vested in him, shall be free to act upon his own convictions, without apprehension of personal consequence to himself." ( Id. at p. 347.)