Harlow v. Fitzgerald

Harlow v. Fitzgerald is a 1982 Supreme Court case that clarified how government officials are protected from lawsuits related to their official duties. The Court ruled that such officials are generally immune from being sued for damages if their actions were within the scope of their official responsibilities and did not violate clearly established legal rights. This protection, called "qualified immunity," helps officials perform their jobs without fear of constant litigation, but they can still be held accountable if they act in a way that clearly violates established laws or rights.