Qualified immunity doctrine

Qualified immunity is a legal principle that shields government officials, including police officers, from being held personally liable for actions performed within their official capacity, as long as their actions did not violate clearly established legal rights. It aims to allow officials to perform their duties without the fear of constant lawsuits, provided they act reasonably and follow existing law. However, it does not protect officials who violate constitutional rights intentionally or recklessly. The doctrine balances accountability with the practical need for officials to perform their duties without undue legal fear.