The Qualified Immunity Doctrine

Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects government employees, particularly law enforcement officers, from being sued for actions taken while performing their official duties. It applies unless the officer violated a person's clearly established constitutional rights. Essentially, it means that if a reasonable officer in the same situation would not have known their actions were wrong, they may not face personal liability in a lawsuit. This doctrine aims to balance the need for accountability with the need for officials to perform their jobs without fear of constant legal challenges.