Qualified Immunity

Policy violation does not equal constitutional violation

The court highlights the differences in a policy violation vs. a constitutional violation in a case involving a jail suicide

What can law enforcement expect from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson?

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Justice Jackson's district court opinions and orders provide an example of her jurisprudential work related to law enforcement

Officer financial wellness needs to be addressed – here’s why

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Americor

A topic that’s rarely discussed, debt-related stress can take a toll on cops

Officers get qualified immunity, but not under the Fourth Amendment

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The court held that the officers acted to “satisfy legitimate law enforcement objectives"

Vulgar sidewalk chalk messages result in lawsuit against police

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The court determines if an arrest of anti-police protestors had probable cause and whether it was retaliatory

Eighth Circuit denies qualified immunity for ‘on scene’ supervisor and officers who fired bean bags during pipeline protest

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Court refused to dismiss county liability allegation that sheriff tacitly authorized pattern of unlawful bean bag deployment

Eighth Circuit rejects qualified immunity for police supervisory and subordinate officers in crowd control operation

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Jury trial required to determine liability for mass arrest, alleged excessive force and supervisory indifference

A letter to the American public: Breaking down policing myths

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Our society cannot expect any reasonable person to put their life on the line without significant guarantees in terms of their compensation, benefits, personal liability and physical well-being

Video evidence, TASER device discharge weighed in court

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When is a TASER device discharge considered excessive force? A recent case with video evidence considers the question

SCOTUS year in review: Decisions on qualified immunity and Fourth Amendment seizures

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In 2021 the Supreme Court affirmed long-standing truisms that protect the home and that qualified immunity review is not a shield against unconstitutional conduct

No qualified immunity for arrest of citizen journalist asking questions

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The court denies law enforcement officers qualified immunity for the arrest of a local journalist in a recent case

U.S. Supreme Court sides with police in qualified immunity cases

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Justices reversed rulings in two separate cases related to use-of-force lawsuits

With 2 rulings, SCOTUS rebukes lower courts and doubles down on qualified immunity guidance

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If there is any clearly established Supreme Court precedent, it is that the Court believes lower courts continue to misconstrue Supreme Court direction on qualified immunity