Ending Qualified Immunity

Eliminating qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that’s used to shield government officials from liability for misconduct, is essential to ensuring that courts can hold law enforcement accountable and deliver actual justice to victims of police violence and their families. S. 176 / A. 1402 creates a new state cause of action for deprivation of rights under the federal or state Constitution or laws and expressly bars the defense of qualified immunity. The bill allows either an injured party or the Attorney General to file a lawsuit against local, state, or federal officials acting under color of law.